The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-11-24

Washington, Nov 24.-Unques- tionably Gen Johnson has come back from his midwest barn. storming tour more solid with President Roosevelt than ever, Some people thought the trip would make or break the gen. eral. If so, the former is the case.
 One of the most significant aftermaths of the trip is the presidents decision not to tam per with the MIRA at the coming session of congress. A lot of people have been advocating changes. But just before he left Warm Springs, the president in- dicated to his Recovery Admin istrators that the MIRA Act was to stand pat.
 MIRA CRITICS IGNORED
 Criticism of the MIRA in cer- tain newspaper, farmer and banking circles apparently leaves Roosevelt unmoved. He tells his friends that the long-term ef- fects of the MIRA, not immediate effects, are important.
 Above, all, the president has become enthusiastic about the work of General Hugh Johnson There was a time several months ago when he had his doubts about the hard-fisted ex-cavalry- man. But that is all past. F. D. R. ENJOYS IT
 r. D. R. gets a great kick out of Johnson's colorful talking. The two men see eye-to-eye in cracking down" on chiselers, violators and profiteers. If any, thing, the president is consider ably more militant about drastic action than Johnson. When Johnson, during a White House conference with steel operators on the "captive" coal mine strike lashed out at them in good old fashioned barrack language, Roosevelt beamed in genuine ap- preciation.
 The president is constantly urging Johnson not to pull his punches. The first thing he told him when he returned from the west was to rush completion of the new plan for drastic MIRA enforcement. Johnson has since been concentrating on it. CONNIOSSEUR e
 Henry Wallace, secretary of agriculture, may be a horny handed farmer, but apparently he has a great yen for works of art.
 Last week an international convention was held in Wash ingtOn to draw up a treaty for the protection of works of art in wartime. It was proposed to mark cathedrals, museums, fa- nous statutes, etc, with an in- ternatiOnally recognized emblem so that enemy gunnerS would spare them for pOsterity.
 Secretary Wallace attended the convention, spoke before it three times during the same day. FORGOTTEN MAN
 Professor Oliver Mitchell Wentworth Sprague, special ad- visor to the treasury department, who resigned on Tuesday, had for some time been the New Deals chief Forgotten Man.
 Professor Sprague, before this job was a happy man. He taught economics at Harvard and the University of Tokyo, received a salary never more than $6,OOO. Then three years ago he was suddenly catapulated into the powerful position of adviser to the Bank of England. His stipend was $25,OOO.
 A few mopths ago Franklin the treasury. The salary was taught Roosevelt when the presi- dent was a youngster at liar yard. He accepted with alacrity. KEPT ON SIDELINES
 But since his first day with the New Deal, Sprague had been on the sidelines. He was a Sound Money" man. Roosevelt was not. He recommended the stabilizatoin of the dollar at the London Conference. Roosevelt did not. He opposed Professor War ren's gold buying plan Roosevelt overruled him.
 Sprague became most unhappy. Also he found it hard to live on $6.0OO instead of $25,000. He offered his resignation to the president. t His former student talked him out of it, but finally , Sprague ended all argument by resigning and issuing the state- ment that caused such a stir de- nouncing the presidents mon etary policy.
 IRRELEVANT
 Latest indoor sport among bankers and wizards of finance is guessing whether Henry Nor genthau, Jr, acting secetary of the treasury, is an inflationist.
 Some say he is and point to the fact that he was Cornell disciple of Professor George F. Warren, author of the fOld-buy- ing plan. Others say he is not and point to the fact that MOr-