Evening star., 1934-09-23
JOHNSON THROUGH,
HIS FRIENDS Think
President Irked by Three
"Breaks," Deals Directly
With Subordinates.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
down the broad outlines Of the pro-
gram he wanted developed, md de-
parted on his Hawaiian cruise.
Upon the Presidents return he had
night conference with Gen. john
son. The general vigorously resisted
the Presidents plan to put the N. r.
A. under direction of a board, to
which the administrator would be re-
sponsible. The general was for the
board idea. but on condition that the
board be subordinate to him. When
the President adhered to his plan,
the general went home and wrote
two-page letter of resignation protest.
ing he wac not being treated reason
ably after the time and effort he had
put into the development Of the
N R. A.
The message was delivered to the
President after he had retired for the
night. Calling for bed table, the
President wrote a note to the general,
admonishing him not to be precipi-
tate. assuring him there was no dis
position to be unreasonable with him
and inviting him over for another talk
on the subject the next day.
Open Break Averted.
An open break at that time was
averted, but with the President not
backing down on his plan for board
control Of the N. r. A. The matter
appeared to be drifting for the time
being. The N. r. A. remained at a
standstill, so far as major policy
matters went. Gen. johnson went to
Bethany Beach. Md, for a rest. An
administrative board was to function
in his absence, accountable to him,
as administrator
Appointed by the general personally,
it included his private secretary, Miss
Frances Robinson; Blackwell Smith,
acting chief counsel of the N. R. A:
Col. George A. Lynch. N. r. A. chief
executive officer; Leon Henderson,
chief of the division of research and
planning. and Alvin Brown, policy
officer.
On the day before President Roose-
velt left for his present stay at Hyde
Park Gen. johnson announced he
was leaving for a two-week vacation
and would see the President at Hyde
Park on September 10.
In the light of subsequent develop
mentS, the sequence Of events Is con-
sidered significant. johnson had
been on the West Coast and travelling
elsewhere during much of the Presi-
dents absence. Late in August. to
- -
fore September 10, when he had an
appointment to see the President
again, the general announced q two
week vacation. The vacation would
be up just before the Monday when
he was to see the President. 1t IS
taken to suggest that the President
had given Gen. johnson something
to think over in the meantime.
Might Get Another Job,
1t is suggested that this probably
was another post in the administra-
ton. such as the President found for
George N. Peek, another of the So
called "Baruch boys" when he took
Peek out as agricultural adjustment
administrator, much to the relief Of
administration left-WlngerS.
On the day after johnson an
nounced he was going away again for
two-week vacation, the White House
appointment list, so it was disclosed
yesterday, showed the President had
sent for Lynch and Smith, N. r. A.
subordinates of Gen. johnson and
members of the Administrative Board
of five he had named to function in
his absence.
In the nearly IS months since the
N. r. A. was esta ablished this was the
first time that President Roosevelt
had dealt directly with anybody but
johnson. except in his presence. with
respect to N. R. A. policy. The White
House has continued this direct con-
tact with Johnson's subordinates
while the general had been sojourn-
ing on Bethany Beach. Miss Robin
son, though member of the same
Administrative Board, was not in
vited to the Summer White House
when she arrived at Hyde Park with
johnson for the September 10 ap-
pointment.
Reorganization Held Up.
In the light of surface developments,
1t is pointed out that the whole reor-
| ganiZation of the N. r. A. is being
held up pending the disposition of
Gen, Johnson.
The further point is mad. that,
although his self fannounced two
week vacation was up by September
10, johnson did not thereafter return
| to Washington, or at any rate to his
office in the N. R. A. The two weeks
holiday had been extended almost
another two weeks when the general
returned to Washington Friday night,
presumably in anticipation OF Presi-
| dent Roosevelt's return this week.
johnson could not be reached at his
hotel yesterday. Friends said he in
tended to go to his Office in the N. R.
| A. tomorrow. A development is ex-
pected upon the return Of the Presi-
dent.