The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-05-19
Praise From the Enemy

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matter herein are also reserved.
Praise From the Enemy
North Dakotans will be interested
to know that. in the opinion of Sena-
tor David Reed Of Pennsylvania, one
OF its sons has been given one of the
most important posts in the federal
government.
The appointee, of course, was ]. F..
r. O'Connor, who has not forgotten
his friends In North Dakota, as was
aptly evidenced by his reference to
this state upon his induction into Of
flee.
Answering q pleasant remark by
Secretary Woodin that Californias
loss was Washington's gain, O'Connor
called his chiefs attention to the fact
that he also considered himself as
being from North Dakota. This is
said to have made 'hit" with a
number OF North Dakotans in WASH
ington, some of whom O'Connor had
not known before.
But to return to Senator Reed and
his comments upon the North Da-
kotan's appointment.
The Pennsylvania opposed the
nomination Of O'Connor for the
comptrollership, but in so doing he
heaped more praise upon him than
one usually gets from friend. The
sole basis Of his objection was OCon-
nor's lack Of banking experience. He
was willing to concede. and said so
openly. the integrity and ability Of
the man from North Dakota's prairies
who went to Washington via Los
Angeles.
In opposing the nomination sena-
tor Reed said:
II am assured by those who know
him (O'Connor), and I am quite
ready to believe that he is a gentle
man of integrity and ability. But the
post to which he Is appointed, that Of
Comptroller of the Currency, Is one of
the key positions in the Government.
It is position which in this time Of
crisis and banking difficulties is prob
ably, outside Of the Presidency and
the office Of Director Of the Budget,
the most important single position in
the United States Government.
"Mr. OConnor has never had any
banking experience whatsoever. He
has never been an officer Of a bank.
He has never been director OF q
bank. He has never been counsel for
= bank. So far as the Finance Com
lnittee could learn, he knows no more
about banking than any depositor
would know from having had a check
ing account. Yet he has been put in
to this position OF great power. of
great responsibility, Of great author
ity over the entire banking system of
the United States, and, because Of his
inexperience. it is necessarily going to
take him months before he can learn
his job as Comptroller of the Cur
rency should know it. am extreme
ly sorry that President Roosevelt
should have seen fit to appoint man
80 inexperienced to a Job 50 vital.
1T ought not to be a job. It ought
to be a position and yet can moi
discover. in what we learned in the
Finance Committee, any single reason
for selecting MIR. O'Connor for thi.
position except it be his general re.
: putation for integrity and his reputa.
ton for general ability. I have NJ
doubt that, like most lawyers, he fa!
learned to cram on a case rapidly
and to get the necessary knowledge
to function: but he ought to hav,
that knowledge at this moment. I
Is ike appointing him to be capital,
Of an ocean liner in the middle Of
hurricane. Doubtless with his abilit,
he would in time learn to be captain
Of an ocean liner and doubtless h
will learn the duties OF this position
but he does not know them now an
I regard his appointment as . grea
mistake
Answering question by Senate
McAdoo, Senator Reed geaff!rme
that his only objection to o'connor WI
his lack Of banking experience. An
then he found he had put his 10,
into q bear-trap.
The lanky Californian, recalling h
six years as treasury secretary ar
the history Of the comptrollershi
said In his opinion the things Ret
conceded to o'Connor were the We,
things most needed.
His view was that the comptroll
Should have had experience. not
much With banks as with banke,
and O'Connor could qualify in tn
respect.
Continuing he said:
THE controllers office Is the
statutory policeman OF the bank