Evening star., 1934-11-20

DATED nearly tnree weeks OeloIc
election. the order was addressed by
Gen. Ickes to his P. w. A. troops and
stated in part:
Many employees are attempting to
use political pressure to secure other
assignments or increases in salary.
These special requests have grown in
value to point where the staff in my
Office Is unable to handle them.
Must Stand on Record.
Notice is hereby given to all en-
ployeS that requests of this nature
will be ignored and will not enhance
their standing for future advance
ment. Once an applicant has
been employed, he should be content
to stand on his record Of performance
for advancement. ."
That pould hare been sad blo,o
to Gen. Farley and Col. Hurjd if
they had heard about it before
election. They are in charge OF
political pressure in the New Deal
army and they might haze sought
the court-martidl OF Gen. Ickes for
Democratic treason.
At least they would have been
grossly insulted at this interference
with their efforS to get all sisters,
brothers, cousins and friends of Dem
ocratic ice-holders to the polls.
Fortunately, fate intervened. Some
say fate was one of Mr.. Ickes' lieu
tenants, who wrapped Order No. ITO
around three cigars and put it in his
vest pocket until all the votes were
cast November 6. Others explain that
it was just the ordinary speed of busi-
ness at the P. w. A., and that the or
der never was lost at all. Friends Of
Mr.. Ickes insinuate that the speed of
the mails, in Gen. Farley's depart
ment, prevented the order from reach
ing field agents out in the country
promptly.
At any rate, the order arrived in
one district project audit office No.
vember 13, Just a week to the day
after the danger period had passed
and nearly a month after the issuance
date. You can't beat that.
More Timing.
Speaking of timing, the appoint
ment of Josephine Roche as Assistant
Treasury Secretary could not have
been announced at a more opportune
moment.
President Roosevelt had made his
speech to the economic specialists on
social insurance. 1t Is no secret that
they did not like it. They wanted a
lot of social insurance and wanted 1t
fast.
Just as they Uere criticizing the
administration, the President ia
Uored Miss Roche, Who is the Dorld's
outstanding erperimentalist in
social insurance through the operd-
ton OF her coal properties.
But that is not the story behind
Miss Roche's appointment. A very
good source says she was first offered
the post of chairman of the National
Labor Relations Board. She informed
the President her coal mine in Colo
rado offered such an opportunity for
experiment in the labor field that she
could not bear to leave.
After Francis Biddle, the Philadel-
fAAA~A @ONOAAASy, Woo SANCIl LdDOI
post, a job was found for Miss Roche
which offered better field Of opera
tions (health. She may feel that she
will have freer hand there.
Incidentally, the labor people
neither cheered nor cried about the
Biddle appointment. So far as they
know, he has no labor record and can
be expected to be non-partisan.
Resignation Rumored.
There Is a story going around In
choice financial quarters that a GER
tain associate justice of the Supreme
Court will resign shortly to become
president of an Eastern university
You can find indications that an offer
has been made, but those closest to
the justice assume he will decline.
The story would hit page one if he
accepted. because every one would
recognize the possibility Of nominating
him on the Republican ticket for
President in 1886.
- "a