THE PRESIDENCY: Non-Partisan Drought

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Two years ago this month Franklin Roosevelt, bronzed and beaming after cruising on the U. S. S. Houston, landed at Portland, Ore. On his way back to Washington two days were spent crossing the northern part of 1934's Great Drought. Those days were memorable. His progress was like a triumphal procession. Uninvited thousands drove miles across the blistered plains to hear him speak. And, like a miracle, within a few hours of his passing through those dull, dun, desiccated lands, showers followed, then drenching rains (TIME, Aug. 20, 1934).

Last week amid his green fields at Hyde Park President Roosevelt talked to the Press again of his plan to visit 1936's Greater Drought later this month. Perhaps he might again prove himself to be a rain maker but, if so, it would be too late to do any real good.

"No politics on the drought trip?" queried a correspondent.

Carefully formulating his words, the President answered in a tone of reproof: "It is a great disservice to the proper administration of any government to link up human misery with partisan politics."

Three days later he gave newshawks fuller plans: Before the end of August he would go to the Dakotas for two or three days and a conference with the Governors of those States, Wyoming and Montana; thence to Wisconsin for a conference with the Governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota, thence to Iowa for a conference with the Governors of—he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as he recited the list of States—Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

As he named "Kansas," he opened one eye to a slit, then grinned at the gawping newshawks. In a few moments wires throughout the U. S. carried the news of how the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Presidency would meet in the midst of the campaign, discuss the non-political subject of Drought. To find an historical precedent, oldsters had to go back to 1896 when William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan, both out stumping, met by chance in a small Nebraska town.

Having enjoyed a pleasant week of fun including a visit from the officers of the Roosevelt First-Voters Club, President Roosevelt wound it up by taking his entourage to a clambake at Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau's Fishkill estate. Then he entrained for a short visit to Washington and work.