Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-08-08
Settle

transferring two men
Controversy from responsible po-
sitions in the Virgin
Islands to jobs in Washington. He
mas taken Paul NJ. Pearson from the
post of civil governor of the Virgin
lslands and has made him assistant di-
rector of housing in the Interior de-
partment and has transferred Federal
director Judge 7. Webber Wilson from
MS post in the islands to the federal
parole board here in Washington.
Each man has accepted his new ap-
polntment and In so far as a current
controversy is concerned, the book
Is closed.
1t will be recalled that Governor
Pearson and Judge Wilson long have
been at loggerheads over Virgin island
affairs. The battle was bitter. It
came to head when Paul Yates,
executive assistant to the governor
and a former Washington corre-
spondent, resigned his job and came
back here with bag full of charges
against his former chief. The Yates
allegations ranged all the way from
minor charges Of poor judgment to
gross accusations. He succeeded in
getting senate committee investiga-
tion and 1t was at that time that the
Pearson-Wilson feud fiared so openly
that administration officials here were
dragged in and the whole scope Of
differences aired.
AS matter of fact there is every
reason to believe that Governor Pear
son was far from a successful execu-
tive in the islands. He frequently
aroused the ire of natives and, ac-
cording to testimony adduced by the
senate investigation, had very little to
show for the sums of money he ex-
pended in attempting to give the Vir-
| gin Islands new lease on life. All
of the information tends to establish
that the islands continue to be ian
effectual poorhouse" just as President
Hoover described them on the occa-
sion of visit during his term as
Chief Executive.
But Governor Pearson had his sup
porters in the administration. Chief
among these was Secretary Ickes
whose department is responsible for
administration of the islands. Just
why Mr.. Ickes has been so enthusiastic
about Governor Pearson's regime iS
not fully disclosed in any evidence
here except that the interior secretary
that some unkind critics refer to as
pure socialism which Governor Pear
son had been attempting to impose
upon the island inhabitants. Governor
Pearson has expended vast sums Of
PWA funds in the islands in his efforts
to carry out the Ickes program of ref
ormation. 1t seems, however, that the
schemes were not as practical as they
might have been and so trouble started
in a rather extensive fashion.
The President stayed outside Of
the row until in the course Of the
senate inquiry Senator Tydings, a
Maryland Democrat and usually an
anti-Roosevelt Democrat, received a
letter from Mr.. Ickes. Mr.. Ickes ac-
cused the investigating chairman with
| having whitewashed a witness whose
testimony was all anti-Ickes and anti
Pearson. The senator flared up in a
big way at that letter. His reply is
likely to become a classic in official
correspondence. He did not mince
his words. After voicing his general
conception of the attitude exhibited by
Mr.. Ickes and accusing him of at
tempting to interfere in the investiga-
tion. Senator Tydings informed the in
terror secretary that he may as well
| attempt to run the Department OF the
Interior and let the senators run the
senate. He used just about those
words.
That was the signal for Mr.. Roose-
Welt 10 take q hand. 1t was easy to
see that a few outbursts of that kind
and Mr.. Ickes might have found HIM
self in a splendid position to resign
from the cabinet. So the President
por the feudists into his office, singly
of course, and when those conferences
were over the senate investigation into
the Virgin island situation was sus-
nended for two weeks. The transfer
of Governor Pearson and Judge Wilson
resulted.
One might properly inquire why all
Of this agitation has occurred about
the Virgin Islands.
Why the They are many hun
Au:4ot;or2 dreds of miles from
washington. They lie
in the Caribbean sea, considerably out
Of the usual pathway of ships; they
are populated by about 22,Ooo indi-
vlduals, % per cent of whom are
negroes and may generally be de-
scribed as backward" place.
They may have some military and
naval value. That has never been
enllv demonstrated. But the fact re-
mains they are possessions OF the
United states and If our government Is
% ho their protector, II Is responsible