Words & Whispers

Comfortably seated in his Albany drawing room surrounded by his family, Governor Roosevelt one evening last week read the full text of the Democratic National Platform to the country over the radio. Important among the campaign comments he interpolated were the following:

"The United States could well afford to take the lead in asking for a general conference ... to determine what can be done to restore the purchasing power of that half of the world's inhabitants who are on a silver basis. . . .

"One of the great needs of the world is to set international trade flowing again. . . . Trade barriers of all kinds ought to be lowered. . . . This problem of the [War] Debts is complex. Great Britain, France and Germany have at last agreed among themselves concerning Reparations. The danger now is that they may turn a united front against us. This comes not so much from the debts they owe us as from our barriers against their trade. . . .

"The Debts will not be a problem--we shall not have to cancel them--if we are realistic about providing ways in which payment is possible through the profits arising from the rehabilitation of trade. . . . The Republican position has been the absurd one of demanding payment and making payment impossible. This policy forced a moratorium. Our policy declares for payment but at the same time for lowered tariffs and resumption of trade which open the way for payment. . . .

"Nothing need be added to that [the Repeal plank], except that if the present Congress takes no action, I shall urge the new Congress to carry out these provisions.

" By prearrangement Massachusetts' Governor Ely who fought so hotly for Alfred Emanuel Smith at the Chicago Convention, plunked for Governor Roosevelt on the strength of his radio speech.

A Republican "whispering campaign" against lame Governor Roosevelt's physical condition similar to the 1928 "whispering campaign" against Mr. Smith's religion was alleged and denounced over the radio last week by Chairman James Farley of the Democratic National Committee. Said he:

"In various parts of the country are cropping up hateful stories in regard to our candidate's physical and mental health with no more foundation than had the libels of four years ago. The Governor recently insured his life for $500,000 with the Warm Springs (Ga.) Foundation as the beneficiary. . . . His lameness which is steadily getting better has no more effect on his general condition than if he had a glass eye or was prematurely bald. ... If he were a weakling in any respect he could not have gone through two gruelling campaigns for the Governorship of New York. . . Governor Roosevelt might be handicapped in a footrace but in no other way need he fear comparison with his adversary."

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