The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-12-27
SEEN~d HEARD
around the
National Capital
S BY CARTER rIELDz


-By CARTER FIELD
Washington.--Gen. Hugh s. John
sons selection by President Roosevelt
to play q part In organizing the coun-
try so that 1t will be ready In all d.
rections. should a war break out. Is
most happy one for many reasons.
In the first place Johnson, while as
ISOLATED with Bernard NJ. Baruch,
worked for almost ten years ON this
very Idea. He did II at Baruch's direc-
ton. Baruch was much impressed.
during the World war. with the chaos
which resulted from this country's hav-
Ing been precipitated into that con-
fict And this despite the fact that 1t
had been at least a possibility for con-
siderably more than two years that
this country would be involved Alb
sence of any intelligent plan for OBJ
tanning the necessary raw materials,
for example. Absence of any sane CO.
ordination of the railroads. lack
which led TO the governments taking
them over and wasting probably hun
dreds of millions of dollars.
And then the big problem Of unequal
strIbution-soldiers getting $50 a
month. having been drafted, and ma
chine workers getting $40 day. The
waste In building ships, especially
wooden ships. The horrible memory
of Hog island.
So Baruch thought the thing to do
would be to have comprehensive
plan. including every man and every
bit of property In the country, so that
at the outbreak of war the whole thing
could be organized with that same effl-
cheney that should characterize the
mobilization OF European army. and
at the same time as naar basis OF
equality between the citizens as posi-
BILE. no matter what their particular
niche In the scheme might be.
Having worked ana thought for ten
years on this subject, comforting with
all the experts and best thinkers they
could get hold of, Baruch and johnson
were obviously the two outstanding
men In the entire country for this
task.
Fond Of johnson
But there was another reason fol
the selection OF Johnson, which was
highly important The President Ii
very fond OF the explosive general, ant
would like to employ his very grea
talents Ia the government The Ques
tIon was, where could he be PLACED
where he could have any reasonable
chance Of getting along peacefully Will
those with whom he would have t.
work
The gradual turning Of close friend
ship between Donald Richberg an
johnson In MIRA - the repeate
battles between Johnson and France
Perkins, secretary of labor-the bite
enmities aroused by Miss Frances Rof
Inson, Johnsons lieutenant, all made
difficult.
But one point stood out like lighl
house. Johnson had demonstrated owe
period Of years that he could an
would work like slave when his wor
was directed by Raruch. So why nc
nut him to work at something whic
very JAuch needed to he done-tecl
nlcally with Baruch, but actually III
der him.
Which Is precisely what the Pres
dent has done.
Incidentally. seldom has a big ples
OF news been more distorted than al
D nouncement of this project. That vel
afternoon senators on the Nye comml
8 teen hit the ceiling In public stat
ments, thinking the move was intends
!. to choke Off their investigation.
Actually there Is nothing In the pre-
ent administration move which relat
even remotely to the Idea OF America
munitions makers selling to foreil
7 countries while this country Is
/" peace Its only purpose Is to have
definite and all embracing plan. viii
can be snapped Into action the nome
this country gets into war.
:, But the words take the profit out
:. war" seemed SO timely That II
= little wonder the headline write
Jumped at them, especially as the sc
tence containing them was the OF
). one on which direct quotes from I
: President were permitted. Even I'll
: resulted from specific request by
newspaper man. II was not the Pre-
dents original Idea. 4
r. Involves knotty Problems
- Further march Of the power OF
:. federal government as against the
= thority OF tile states Is seen In the
', Termination of Secretary of War DE
spurred on by Senator Lonergan
Connecticut. to give the federal x
70 eminent control over Industrial wa
|. dlsposals In streams. lakes and coas
;. waters.
Legislation providing for this Will
= introduced In both houses curly In
= session, and will II Is learned. be \
!, orously pressed despite the "
"A knotty constitutional problems
uplynI