The Squire of Hyde Park

Through the door of the Presidential suite in Washington's Hotel Willard one afternoon last week peeped a lady with the reputation of being the wisest of her clan —Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Beside her peeped pretty Mrs. Patrick Jay Hurley, wife of the Secretary of War.

"Isn't it killing?" giggled Mrs. Hurley.

"Very funny," admitted Mrs. Longworth.

Object of their merriment was Mrs. Longworth's halfbrother, Theodore Roosevelt. Back from a capable administration of Porto Rico, he had been appointed Governor General of the Philippines, was now posing for sound films with brown Sergio Osmena, president pro tem. of the Philippine Senate. With him to his new post was going his daughter Grace, 20, who takes after her mother and who has been studying typing and shorthand to fit herself to be one of her father's secretaries.

As brother and sister said good-bye to each other shortly thereafter, it may be supposed that Sister Alice, unique daughter of a unique President and notable widow of a notable Speaker of the House, poured into Brother Theodore's 'ear the sort of profound advice which would naturally come from one for whom national and international politics have been a life-long diversion, accomplishment and career.

With President Hoover's blessing so patently on Brother Theodore's head, it now behooved Theodore's Republican kin to get behind the Hoover candidacy for reelection. The family was scattered. Settled quietly at Oyster Bay was Mrs. Ethel Roosevelt Derby, the President's other daughter. Cousin Gracie Hall Roosevelt was serving as Detroit's comptroller. Brother Kermit was running a steamship line in Manhattan. Brother Theodore, adding fresh lustre to the name, was starting out for the other side of the world. Alice remained in Washington, perhaps to try to woo Hoover support from such a vehement anti-Hooverite as her good friend Senator Borah. There were two others. They were Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Governor of New York, and his wife Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Roosevelt. He was T. R.'s fifth cousin, she, his favorite niece. Yet President Roosevelt's immediate brood looked upon these two kinsmen with political distrust and personal disfavor because they were Democrats. Once during the 1920 campaign young Theodore Roosevelt, to dispel the popular impression that Franklin Roosevelt was a real chip off the Big Stick, declared: "He's a maverick! He doesn't have the brand of our family."

"Simple Duty." Last week the rivalry between Republican Roosevelts and Democratic Roosevelts was materially heightened when the Governor of New York formally announced his long-brewing Presidential candidacy. North Dakota Democrats asked permission to put his name into their preferential primary March 15. From Albany Governor Roosevelt replied: "... I willingly give my consent. ... It is the simple duty of any American to serve in public position if called upon. . . . Our Legislature is now in session. ... I must devote myself to the obtaining of progressive laws. . . . Were I now to divert my efforts in furtherance of my own political future, I would stamp myself as one unworthy of my party's choice as leader."

Governor Roosevelt's announcement was welcomed by his pre-convention campaign organization, with steam up and ready to go. His chief campaigner was James A. Farley,