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The Southern Israelite
Charles Michelson, Who Revived a Dead Political Party
By HENRY MONTOR
Democratic Party is alive. It is a force
count with. It is even a menace to the
Republican Party. Only those who have fol-
lowed the graph of American politics realize
it the foregoing sentences are more dramatic
r superficial content would indicate,
for vears too numerous to count the party of
L person and Jackson has been a somnolent
organization, ineffective during those many
cades in which it was out of office. The
Democratic Party seemed to exist so that the
Republicans could point it out as a symbol of
the awful future that awaited the country un
do Democratic guidance. The party of the
ionkey also served a purpose as the butt of the
of Will Rogers—himself a half-and-
talf Democrat. In other words, the Demo
cratic Party was dead.
I hen came its Messiah, the man who, con
trary to the assumption that the age of mir
acles had passed, resurrected the dead. This
wizard of necromancy is Charles Michelson,
ubo. because of his extraordinary feat, has
been characterized as “the world’s greatest
publicity man".
1 here are not many who have failed to
bear the name of Michelson. If we would
relieve the fiery denunciations of the Hamil
tonians. Charlie is responsible for the eco
nomic decline of the country; it is his fault
that the Prohibition laws are not accorded
reaur reverence by the people, etc. In fact,
entire Republican Party during the past
v months lias dedicated itself to the propo-
ton that Charles Michelson must be anni-
or else—well, the forty-eight States
U >11 perish, presumably.
' is this person who seems to incarnate
1 earth? Charles Michelson, born at
i City, Nev., on April 18, 1869, is
tber of that famous scientist and Nobel
inner. Prof. Albert Michelson, of Chi
de is a member of a versatile and gifted
But whatever fame he has is the prod-
hs own achievements. Not many know
Tly connections, in fact. Until two
! go he was one of America's sharpest
commentators. His dispatches to the
ork World were objective studies in
history. He wrote frankly and some-
mgingly. He could never be relied
boost the reputation of any man. He
^appointingly blunt and unequivocal,
whole past provided a training that
,rn thoroughly independent, a state of
always achieved by the average cor-
cf it. Starting out as a mere reporter in
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San Francisco, he was later shifted to New
York, for one of whose papers he covered the
Spanish-American conflict. Later he drifted
back to the Pacific Coast and became manag
ing editor of the San Francisco Examiner. But
his trek was again Eastward. For two years
he was managing editor of the Chicago Ex
aminer and for five years of the New York
American. Most recently he took up his
abode in the Capital C.ity, where he served as
Washington correspondent of the Chicago
Charles Michelson is one of the
most famous figures in America to
day. By Republicans he is assailed
as a reviler of the President. By
Democrats he is hailed as the savior
of their party fortunes. This brief
sketch describes the man and his ac
complishments.—The Editor.
Herald, and then, for a number of years, of
the New York World.
His activities with the New York Demo
cratic paper brought him to the attention of
John J. Raskob and his associates. In 1928,
after the defeat of Smith, Raskob was not
content to let the Democratic Party subside
into mausoleum quietude, as was usual after
each Presidential election. He thereupon in
vited Michelson to assume charge of publicity
for the Democratic National Committee. He
placed $250,000 at the disposal of the pub
licity department. Then began that state of
affairs which has kept the Republicans trem
bling ever since, that has made them fear for
their majority in the House and that has made
them certain of a loss of seats in the Senate.
Things started auspiciously when the short
session was convened and the lawmakers be
gan trifling with the tariff. When it was as
sured that the high tariff advocates were going
to win, Michelson coined that classic phrase
of the “Billion Dollar Tariff". It was a vivid
phrase which could be used to tell the citizens
how much their cost of living would go up
as a result of Republican machinations. T he
leaders of the other party have felt the tentacles
of that phrase about them and no squirming
has been able to jerk it off, except they shout
that it is a “Billion Dollar Lie”. But Michel-
son’s primary purpose was accomplished.
When Hoover was elected it was the gen
eral feeling that he was an engineer of many
achievements, a humanitarian of great skill, an
executive of driving force. Whether all or any
of these qualities arc his is a matter for doubt
now. And as far as the general picture pre
sented to the public is concerned. Hoover is
timid in his leadership, unskillful in driving
the intransigents into the Republican corral,
unable to gauge the sentiments and guide the
actions of the legislative body. That picture
of an ineffective, timorous, maladroit Presi
dent has been drawn by Charles Michelson.
The economic crash, unemployment, the
agricultural crisis, export losses, unfriendliness
to the United States on the part of foreign
countries, tax rises, income declines, industrial
depression, civil service violations—all these,
and more, have been attributed to Hoover by
the Democratic National Committee.
Equipped with almost unlimited funds, pos
sessed of a brilliant strategic mind, thoroughly
acquainted with the processes of government,
knowing almost all of official Washington,
Charles Michelson has been able, single-
handed, to make a dominant force out of the
Democratic Party.
Some weeks ago Michelson spoke over the
radio—in his own defense. The Republicans,
driven to desperation by his telling tactics,
called upon the patriots of the land to form a
crusade against this gentleman. He was be
smirching the sanctity of the Presidential
office. He was shaming the Chief Executive
before the eyes of all the world. He was in
dulging in slander. But what Republican
Chairman Fess and his brethren most empha
sized was that all this was being done by a
“paid" publicity man. One imagines that this
shot winged Michelson. That it is unfair goes
without saying. He has always been a Demo
crat; he has always scored the Republicans.
T hat he is receiving a salary in his present po
sition is not the slightest reflection upon the
sincerity of his views.
In his radio address, speaking in his slow,
even tempo, Michelson had plenty of oppor
tunity to display his sarcasm to its most biting
extent. He appeared naive about the whole
matter. He seemed unable to understand all
the invective that had been directed at him:
from the subtle attack of Frank Kent in Scrib
ner’s Magazine to Senator Fess pamphlet,
issued by the Republican Committee, charg
ing him with undermining and reviling the
President. “I never knew I was as good as all
that," Michelson concluded, in pointing out
that he had been credited with the economic
knowledge of (Continued on Page 22)
