Young Democrats

Month ago the officers of the nation's Young Democratic Clubs, which claim 3,000.000 members aged 18 to 40, confidently expected that President Roosevelt, their national secretary Son James Roosevelt, and 10,000 delegates would attend their second national convention in Milwaukee. Last week some 1,500 delegates showed up, but not President Roosevelt, busy with Congress in Washington, nor Son James, ill with a sore throat at Hyde Park. Sadly disappointed, but still hoping that Son Franklin Jr. might appear, the delegates sat down to listen to a speech by Pennsylvania's Governor George H. Earle. Midway in his speech a lanky youth of 19 stepped out on the flag-decked platform unannounced, sidled toward a chair. With a happy roar, the delegates leaped to their feet, charged up to the platform, shunted Governor Earle aside as they fought to shake the hand of Youngest Son John Roosevelt.

"It's rather a lucky break that I can be here," grinned he. "Father intended to be here but couldn't and then Jimmie was unable to, so I decided at last that someone in the family ought to come. I am very glad to be here."

Next night young Democrats and the nation heard John's father read a "non- political" speech over the radio from Washington. "Facts are relentless," throbbed the warm, familiar voice of the President. "We must adjust our ideas to the facts of today. ... To the American youth of all parties I submit a message of confidence--unite and challenge. Rules are not necessarily sacred--principles are. The methods of the old order are not, as some would have you believe, above the challenge of youth."

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