, 1935-05-26
WASHINGTON
BY Ray Tucker

Picker - Agricultural poobahs
wish that congress would pass q law
declaring a moratorium ON labor
inventions. They yearn for
he right to outlaw the new cotton
machine which their agents
have been observing In the South
and. It al disrupt their program
Tor planned economy and result In
permanent and larger relief rolls In
The Cotton Belt.
Departmental representatives have
q black report after
watching the exhibition of this mod
ern machine. IL passed over a bed
81 tulips. and il plucked the depth
Of the flowers without ever bruis-
ing the cups. IL picks cotton with
the same care and dispatch.
It Is estimated that II will throw
thousands of hand-pickers out Of
work as soon as IL reaches the stage
Of large scale commercial production.
And it viii be ready for manufacture.
according 10 confidential reports.
as soon as its inventors - two Mis-
farmers negotiate the
kind Of contract they want with an
internationally known manufacturer.
Illusion 80 There Is more rejoicing
among democrats than republicans
at the movement to make AL Smith
the republican nominee in next
years presidential race. Fantastic
as the idea may seem 1t has caught
on surprisingly with the politically
uniformed and uninitiated.
Some administration amateurs
look for II and welcome ". They
think that sucn a symbol Of cleay-
age between conservatives and lib
would strengthen the presi-
dent. But q. O. r.. bosses can't see
Il. They would prefer defeat to
victory under such terms. Even If
Il means a licking in 1886 they want
TO retain control Of the party ma
chinery. They r looking ahead
10 1910.
1912 furnished them with a prece-
dent. q. o. p. strategists Of that
lay could have catered TO Progress
i've sentiment by nominating Teddy
Roosevelt. But that would have
split the party wide open without
defeating Woodrow Wilson. They
take the same stand today. Better
4 defeat in 1896 than any %palavering
such a friendly enemy as Al.
There would be too many apologies
and explanations TO make on both
Gesture?-The ALLEGATION OF SlO.-
200. 900 TO undertake construction Of
4 power plant on PaSsaquoddy Bay
N Maine has caused a lifting OF the
eyebrows in many quarters. Al
though II has been the presidents
favorite project since he sailed the
Eastport harbor IN boyhood days its
development has been rejected By
The PWA several times.
Mr.. Ickes' various investigations
convinced him that the power would
BE- neither cheap nor marketable.
There Is no demand for 1t in Maine
unless new industries are developed
here. and the industrial market In
New England has been described III
engineering reports as too distant
servicing.
But there may be a diplomatic Jus
for this project. Canada
has recently evinced some indif-
ference 20 negotiation Of a treaty for
development Of st. Lawrence River
SO the PaSSamaquoddy
proposition may be designed as a ges-
.ure to bring our northern neighbors
o time, or ii may serve as a sub
for the st. Lawrence project
the present deadlock be-
'ome permanent.
Competition There Is more
Jealousy and rivalry 10 the square
nch among government detectives
han there Is among any other fed
sral organizations. The feud Is all
he more serious because the Cab
net members who command these
federal agents r prouder Of their
'deteckative" p~rerogatives than Of
heir more important duties - At
General Cummings. Secretary
Morgenthau, Secretary Ickes and
Postmaster General Farley.
The So-called C" men have grab
bed off most Of the glory, due large
" 10 their flair and desire for pub
other detective agencies
clever and sometimes more
productive Of results think it better
10 function in obScurity - the Sc
rret Service. Elmer Irey's Internal
Revenue agents. the postal inspec-
tors and Louis CLAWS "ogDu' in the
interior Department. They have
Jailed some Of the nations worst
crooks without any flourishes and
ruffles, but the ID Of j men get the
There may be a showdown soon.
although the Cabineteers prefer to
avoid It. But Irey's Treasury oper-
atives are getting tired Of being
&C" men when they snare a
Capone. a Dutch Schultz. a Huey
Long satellite or a Murray Hum
phreys. They like 70 be known as
Treasury agents" The postal in
spectors and the CLAWS sleuths who
do their work so silently but effec-
lively ire fed up too.
Recognition - Senator Joe Cuff
fey isn't advertising 1t but the Penn
.ylvanian has started an active
campaign TO land the 1886 demo-
cratic national convention for Phil
adelphia. He has the arguments
and the money, and he is making
Roadway In influential circles.
Political history long ago pune
tured the myth that the site OF a con-
affects the vote in nearby
territory. but the most practical poll
Iticians still succumb TO that argyll
nent. Recalling the democrats sur
victory in the Keystone state
1894. Senator Guffey demands
his sort Of recognition as a reward
ana as an incentive To future dem