, 1934-12-17
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

BY George Dunno :
1931-There has been much ado
in Washington the last few days
about legislation to take profit out
OF war and write a permanent uni
versal draft clause into the statute
books.
Since President Roosevelt took
hold of the idea With a firm hand.
members OF the Senate committee
investigating the munitions indus
try have complained the White
House was trying TO stymie their
inquiry and steal their glory.
Both sides could save time and
money by going back TO a report
made by the War Policies Commits
sion In 1881. and an Industrial
Mobilization Plan based on that
report, which was approved in Feb
rusry. 1888.
Former President Hoover appoint
ed this Commission. On II we're
ranking members OF his cabinet and
the following legislators: Senators
Swanson OF Va, Vandenberg OF
Mich, Robinson OF Ark, and Reed
OF Pa; Reps. McSwain OF 9. c.,
Collins OF Miss, Hadley Of WASH
ington. and Holiday Of III.
Among the most important wit
neSses appearing before the Com
mission were Bernard NJ. Baruch
and General Hugh Johnson, in
their capacities as members Of the
old War Industries Board.
Swanson Is now Secretary OF the
Navy. Vandenberg Is a member OF
the Senate Munitions Inquiry. Rob-
inson is majority floor leader Of the
Senate. McSwain Is Chairman Of
the House Military Affairs Com
mittee.
Swanson. Baruch and johnson
are members OF President RooSe-
velt's new profit-out-of-war group.
Shush. - Chairman Nye OF the
Senate Committee currently strait
ing the shot-and-ShelI manufac-
turers cries out that the White
House Is trying TO stifle his investi-
CATION while there r still a lot OF
Juicy angles TO be developed.
What undoubtedly is in the back
OF Nye's head Is the fact his COM
mittee has only sufficient funds left
to run IL through for Il few more
DAYS. The idea had been 70 ask
congress. as soon as IL reasSembled,
TO appropriate more money 80 the
show could 20 on.
Members OF the committee sus-
pect President Roosevelt OF having
endorsed the universal draft at
lust the right time to persuade
congress there was no $ spending
money to collect additional evi-
dence. If the White House agrees
to the desired legislation, why not
pass it and do away with further
eXpense?'
RehearSaI-"Now will I give those
admirals hell"
So General Smedley Butler. re-
tired storm center OF the Marine
Corps. confided 70 washington
friends the other day.
Butler has been offered a con-
tract to do a long-term broadcast
series over station WCAU in Phila-
delDhia with no restrictions on his
subject matter-except for that
profanity, OF course. AS this Is writ
ten. the pen is dipped and a blot
ter 4 being held over the contract.
Don't forget that Buffers latest
claim 10 the front pages was a
charge he had been offered Wall
Street money TO lead a fascist army
on Washington. He VIII nave OPP
Dortunity TO tell about that publicly
this week before the House Un-
American Activities committee.
If he puts on q good show here
YOU can imagine what his broad
casts will be like. II his act flops
there may be no broadcaSts.
Crossed-First casualty OF the
winter sports in Washington seems
10 be Secretary Of War Dern.
Dem was the man who started
the idea General Douglas Mac
Arthur should have a second term
as Chief Of Staff. Since taking the
War portfolio in President RooSe-
yelt's cabinet Dern has leaned
heavily on the advice and knowl-
edge OF Macarthur and those close
to the firing line say he didn't want
the General to 20 back 70 troops.
AS the story goes. Macarthur had
no idea whatever OF taking a sec
ond hitch as Chief OF Staff-being
fully aware Of the law. But Dern Is
said To have proposed IL TO him,
SAYING he would take II UP With
the President.
This columniSt most certainly
was not in the room but army
circles vow that some days later
Dern and Macarthur had another
meeting. As the General was leav-
ing the Secretary said. in effect. i
saw the President and everything
Is all set"
Dern vas thinking about one
thing and Macarthur probably was
thinking about n second term as
Chief al staff. II was shortly after
this that the first story leaked out
~. ~ A@~ N@HNK