The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-05-05
WASHINGTON .HEADLINERS
BY ALExANDER R. GEORGE.

Was MdICH D. 400, SuG NGpuUllCuA
administrators moving out
day" in Washington.
A mild. patient looking man
with quizzical, humorous eyes be-
hind large spectacles wassone of a
crowd awaiting entrance to the
impressive mahogany-trimmed of
flee of Secretary Wilbur of the
interior department.
The man unOstentatiously
stepped up to suave office at
tendant and whispered:
"My name is Ickes, Harold l..
l want to say howdy, not good
bye, to Mr.. Wilburs Suppose Il
slip into this ante-room until the
rush is over"
Thus the cabinet debut of the
man who today is secretary Of the
interior. administrator Of the vast
petroleum industry, director of
the largest public works project in
the history of the nation and re-
garded by political observers as
one of the Strong men, of the
Roosevelt regime.
No "Whissers"
Sitting long hours at a broad
desk in the big room which over
looks the distant Potomac, Ickes
still has that patient look in his
eyes except when he thinks some
one is trying to "pull a whizzern
on him or the government.
Then the jaws take on granite
cast, the milk blue eyes become
somewhat steely and there are
closely clipped utterances of nm
yarnished language. Lobbyists and
sharp-dealers are his particular
nuisances.
Ickes, who has had to say "nov
to many applicants for PWA
funds and favors, has said the
word a great many times in his SO
years of fighting "the bosses and
crusading for political reform. At
the republican national conventions
of 1920 he was one Of a handful
of delegates who voted no when
the assembly was asked to make
unanimous the nomination of
Warren Harding for the presi-
dency.
When the Insult interests sought
to make peace with him four years
ago, his answer was a loud 'tno"
that reverberated through Cook
county and Illinois. although he
was advised it meant political
suicide for him. When his polit-
ical battles in Chicago became dis
heartening he turned to his flower
garden for restoration of spirit.
Part-Time Gardener
Five acres of blossoms make his
home in Winnetka, north shore.
suburb of Chicago. one Of the
show gardens of the country. He
is a specialist in dahlia growing,
has originated several varieties
and named one the Anna w.
Iekes in honor of his wife. Ad-
pised rby his physician to give up
tennis as too. strenuous. he turns
to garden work in season.
!, In his. office here Ickes works
with his sleeves rolled up. has "a
glass of milk and a sandwich
brought i'm for lunch and often re-
turns after dinner to remain. on
the job until III o'clock or later.
At go he does not seem to feel the
strain of responsibility as director
of three big. governmental enter
prises.
Long an avowed champion of
the under-dog. he shares with Mrs.
Ickes, who is a republican menu
Der of the Illinois state legisia-
ture. an interest in the problems
of the American Indian. They have
a home in what sounds like a re-
publican stronghold. Coolidge, Me-
Kinley county. New Mexico.
Befriends "Un1er-Der"
No campus playboy was Harold
lekes when he attended the Uni
verSity Of Chicago. He was .
senior, when he took part in his
frst political champaign in the
spring of 1897. Chicago was tire
mendously stirred and 50 was
Harold over q public utility quss-
lion. He dropped his academic
pursuits and reported at the heaef-
quarters Of the independent re-
publican candidate for mayor.
John Maynard Harlan. son Of the
late Supreme court justice, John
Marshall Harlan.
Influenced by his son Raymond,
Secretary Ickes became interest
ed several years ago In stamp coli
lecting and has added many valm-
able specimens to the formers
eollAckicn.
He summarizes his political
philosophy in enc short sentence: !
Il hate 10 see the under-deg
...k ks.a.. a -