Typed Manuscript Signed.
This Ohio democratic politician served that state as congressman (1918-21) and as their 53rd governor (1935-39). Item #18072
TMS, 4pp (onion skin sheets), 8½" X 13 3/4", n.p., 1935 March 9. Very good. Small paper clip rust mark at upper left of first page. Original single-spaced typescript of the Ohio governor's irate speech, titled "Radio Speech of Martin L. Davey, Governor, March 9th, 1935," on the Federal Emergency Relief Administration programs within Ohio and his inability to exert any control over it. In part: "Many of you will recall that I made an issue of this relief situation in the campaign last year.... I made a solemn promise to the people of Ohio to correct the abuses and to eliminate the waste and inefficiency. / ....neither myself as Governor, nor any agent of the State of Ohio, has the slightest possibility of correcting any of the evils and waste and inefficiency that give rise to such wide-spread complaints. I am wholly unable to keep an earnest campaign promise to clean up this situation... / It is not my purpose to evade responsibility.... I was perfectly willing to take all the blame that goes with executive power, but when there is not the slightest power lodged in the Governor to correct the abuse and waste, I am not willing to assume public responsibility for what is going on..." A lengthy denunciation of the way in which New Deal programs were being carried out on the state level. Interestingly, Davey's pre-gubernatorial business, the Davey Tree Expert Company, was one of the earliest to sponsor network radio programs -- thus Davey was well versed in the power of radio waves to influence constituents. Within weeks of taking office, Davey -- whose tenure has been described as "one of the most extraordinary and bizarre periods in the annals of the Ohio governorship" -- began feuding with President Roosevelt. He accused the federal administration of relief in Ohio with being "cruel, inhuman and wasteful" -- to which FDR accused Davey with corrupting relief efforts in Ohio. Roosevelt quoted federal relief administrator Harry L. Hopkins, who maintained that Davey's campaign committee had solicited contributions to finance his inaugural ball from persons working with the Federal Relief Administration. Davey sought to have Hopkins arrested for criminal libel. Before the Ohio legislature, Davey called Hopkins a coward and a liar and dared him to enter Ohio. This typescript clearly precedes this name-calling brouhaha, for in it Davey discusses Hopkins and his agency in civil if not cordial terms. Chronologically, this speech likely falls some time shortly after the beginning of the Davey-FDR feud and the FDR countercharges. Boldly signed by Davey at the conclusion. Fascinating and most unusual -- an important relic from this memorable Ohio political squabble.
Price: $495.00