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Page 9 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 W fami! Uct ; vea^ New turn upon was H mad, mine r «pc 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)