PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 221, 18 September 1934, Page 6

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

“ BEST MAN IN THE WORLD ” EX-NEW ZEALANDER'S TRIBUTE j WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. I “What do you think of President I Roosevelt?” was a question put by a |v Post representative to Miss Mary Me- la Mahon, formerly of Chrisfichurch, and | r now of Mobile, Alabama. United States, I f who arrived to-day by the Maunganui |o from San Francisco on a visit to rela- t. tions in the South Island. The answer, I coming from an ex-New Zealander, was a illuminating as showing the intense, ad- c miration which the vast majority of b people in America have for Mr Roose- t velt. c “He is the best man in the world,” Miss McMahon asserted with enthusi- e asm, her voice betraying the influence a of long association with the people of I the southern States. v “Yes, and he is the whitest man who ever sal in the White House,” inter- ( jected another woman passenger. < “You know, he reallv is a marvel- ( Jous man.” Miss McMahon proceeded. I “Why? Because he is so sincere and a for the people, and it is so easy at 1 any time to get in touch with him. v There is nothing high and mighty l about him, and you don’t have to have v a thousand letters before you can reach ’ him- . 1 “Have v< n ever met him? ’ Miss j McMahon was rsked. . t “No.” sh?. admitted, “but 1 wish 1 f had Would you believe it that when f he went through the West on a recent t tiip people tiavelled hundreds of miles just to be at the station to see him { pass through, even if he was asleep, f Imagine how they love him when they t will go to all ibat trouble just to see. ; h : s train and perhaps not catch a glimpse of hiirj. Mrs RooseveL? She’s ( fine, too.” . . t ■Mi c s McMahon made the surprising , statement that although she has been , ■hiity years in the United States she. t had nut foriiially become an American , citizen. “I. am still a British subject, ( but I really ought to be an American,” , _,he said. . i “ You woul ! prefer to be an Amen- s 1 can citizen?” “Well, I have never had any occa- ; sion to make the change,” Miss Me- ( 1 Mahon replied. “It reallv is too much . trouble, but ] believe in everything ( con ne’e ted with the United States and p with the pre.e.it Government, at any , rate. I tiling ?nc should become a citi- L zen of any place in which one makes I. one’s home, don't you?’i ‘ Notwithstanding her enthusiasm for ( ’ things Amerkan. Miss McMahon con- . fessed that su“ was looking forward to , I. seeing New Zealand again, hci last < • visit having been twelve years ago. She ; 1 expects to remain in the Dominion some