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Once again millions of Americans are gathered to celebrate the birthday of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Not only here at the Waldorf-Astoria and the other Boroughs and Community celebrations in greater New York, and all the leading hotels in Washington, D. C., Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, and in all other large cities, but also in more than seven thousand other communities throughout the country, wherever there is a hall big enough to hold the celebration and hearts big enough to appreciate what it accomplishes.

At least five million citizens are enjoying the fun in person. Millions of others who could not attend will listen to the radio broadcast in their homes. There can be very few persons of mature years in this whole nation who have not at least given thought to the occasion. And there are, of course, thousands who have given a great deal of thought and time and money to make the occasion what it is -- a truly national birthday party.

It is a common saying that the only worth-while happiness lies in bringing happiness to others. If this is true, then surely the United States is a twice-blessed nation tonight. For if the elaborate plans made for entertaining the celebrants have everywhere been carried out as successfully as they were last year and the year before, doing good has never been more enjoyable. Nor has enjoyment ever done more good.

The proceeds of all these entertainments -- every cent of them -- go to carry on the fight against infantile paralysis. Seventy percent remains in the community which raises it, to support local hospitals that treat the disease and its after-effects. The remaining thirty percent goes to Warm Springs Foundation in Georgia, where so much is being learned about the treatment for disabled victims -- where, in a sense, are the headquarters of this whole organized attack on poliomyelitis.

Roughly $2,700,000 have been raised in the past three years through the President's Birthday Celebration. When they were inaugurated, in 1934, it was decided that more good could be done by spending the whole amount raised each year during that year than by investing it and using only the income from the investment. Equipment for rehabilitating "polio" sufferers is so expensive, treatment so long drawn-out, and research into the causes and means of combating the disease so difficult, that even the handsome sums contributed each year by those who have attended the Birthday Celebrations fall distressingly short of meeting the problem. There are approximately 300,000 persons in this country crippled by poliomyelitis -- one-third of all the crippled children owe their disability to the disease. To provide orthopedic facilities for all these, to build pools, operate clinics, maintain hospital beds -- the known methods of alleviating after-effects -- are immensely expensive. Nowhere in the country -- not even in its richest city, New York -- is there adequate equipment yet for dealing with present sufferers. A great deal of money is needed.

But even more important is the financing of research. All over the country scientists are quietly working to discover just what causes this affliction, how the virus is communicated, and, when they have learned this, what measures may be taken to stamp it out. Thousands of years passed before a means of coping with small pox was discovered. Half the population of Europe at least and untold millions in the Far East died before bubonic plague was checked. These were comparatively simple diseases to deal with; no one fears them today in civilized nations like ours, because medical pioneers risked their lives again and again and finally won out against them. Medical pioneers in 1937 are striking out along new trails against this more subtle, infinitely more difficult malady. In time they too will win. Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps next year. No one can say exactly when. Any more than anyone can say exactly when some one of our friends or relatives may be stricken by it. But victory will eventually be won.

It is peculiarly appropriate that President Roosevelt's birthday should provide the occasion for this gathering. Himself a victim of poliomyelitis, he has won the whole world's admiration by his courageous and successful battle against its effects. Naturally, the experience emphasized his interest in the fight against "polio," and he has made himself the spearhead of the organized attack upon it. His cheerful, smiling attitude toward life provides exactly the example needed by the convalescent. For the road back to health and usefulness is long and disheartening; an optimistic spirit, a smiling refusal to be discouraged by slow progress or setbacks -- these are essentials for recovery. And they are qualities plainly apparent in the President.

Even in the midst of his heaviest executive duties the President finds opportunity to write notes of encouragement to children fighting the disease. Time and again one hears of cases in which a few cheerful words from the White House have revived the failing spirit of some stricken boy or girl, contributed materially to his or her recovery. These incidents show the extent of his interest in the fight against infantile paralysis and the depth of his sympathy for its victims.