Show t 1 1 I NATIONAL NA AFFAIRS Reviewed by CARTER FIELD Observers begin to doubt President Roosevelt's sa sa- sagacity sagacity sa- sa sagacity as a political strate strate- strategist strategist gist The Thc late Louis LOllis Howe HOlCe seems to be missed The Tue Presidents President's blast I 1 against the he Dies committee likely to have its effect on labor and political situa situations 4 for some time to come t I WASHINGTON There arc are a good many observers who are be be- beginning beginning beginning ginning to suspect that President Roosevelt is s not as shrewd a po po- political political strategist as he was a n few years cars back They blame this on J two factors By far the more im tin- important is the fact that the Pres President President dent no longer has his famous No NoMan Man in Louis McHenry Howe But also important is the fact that Jim a. a Farley Parley is almost disregarded so far faras farI Ii I as broad strategy is concerned j 5 Howes Howe's tremendous value to the President cannot be exaggerated l Right up to the ine time ume of his death he nev nev- never never never er hesitated to cross k his beloved chief He could say things to him which no one else would dare to mention A virtual S lifetime of ot devotion so unselfish and self self- effacing as to be classic gave him S S s. s this privilege There S James A. A is no doubt that he Farley prevented Roosevelt from doing a great many things S would have been politically His wisdom sim sim- simply simply simPlY inexpedient t. t was ply uncanny His feel for a state situation was beyond belief He was was' was almost never fooled Cooled This does not mean that he always alwa s 's prevailed For example he opposed S to the utmost of his ability the trip tripS S Roosevelt made to the Pacific coast coastin in the 1932 campaign Howe knew that it was not necessary He was n.- n. 1 against such a tremendous risk He S S knew the possibility that Roosevelt in a gesture might actu- actu ally ally fall down physically This S. S Howe and most of Roosevelt's ad- ad advisers advisers advisers feared as one of the worst breaks that could happen against agai them Not that it would prove anything 5 so far as Roosevelt's ability to be S President was concerned but they were terribly afraid of the S 5 S ty that the public might come to toS believe Roosevelt was physically un un- unable unable un- un unable able because of ot his infantile in pa pa- paralysis paralysis 1 to cope with the strain the r presidency would impose But this failure to deter Roose Roose- Roosevelt Roosevelt velt was the exception not the rule Normally Howes Howe's advice would pre pre- prevail prevail prevail vail especially as it was generally S reinforced by Mrs Roosevelt's judg judgment ment the First i p Lady having the most extraordinary respect for Howes Howe's political judgment |