Exercise for Defense

John Bernard Kelly, Democratic leader of Philadelphia, is tough. As a contractor's helper he once fell four stories without getting hurt. He was Olympic singles sculling champion (1920). At 51 he still rows, plays handball, swims, golfs. Last fall he went to Washington and told President Roosevelt that national defense demanded that all citizens toughen themselves for physical ordeals ahead.

President Roosevelt told Jack Kelly to draft a plan. Kelly did, but the plan marked time on the President's desk. Last week Strong Man Kelly got action. He was appointed director of physical training for the nation by Fiorello LaGuardia, director of Civilian Defense.

Jack Kelly seized the job with both hands. This week he opened Physical Training headquarters in Philadelphia, announced that he would appoint a woman to toughen U.S. women, would enlist prominent athletes (e.g., Jack Dempsey, Tom Harmon) "to help teach the men and women of America to be strong." He plans to start a toughening-for-defense school in every village, town and city; to organize hiking clubs, calisthenics clubs, softball and soccer clubs, swimming clubs, skating clubs; to open Government clinics to diagnose citizens' physical weaknesses.

His movements' slogans: Don't Be a Softy. It's Unpatriotic to Be Unhealthy.

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