The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-30


 resounding disapproval, the league will not now grant Mus solini even the compromise plan for an Abyssinian protectorate which was put forward last sum- mer.
 MusSolini is now on the tough est spot of his entire life. He has got to surrender or fight it out. And the chances are that in fighting 1t out, almost certain ly he will pull in the rest of Eu- rope.
 Harry Hopkins
 Harry Hopkins got off the train at Terre Haute, Indiana, the other day to stretch his legs. He was enroute to St. Louis to deliver a speech. On the station platform g woman approached.
 Aren't you MT. Harry Hop kins?" she said. ''Well. my hus- band and I are both college graduates, and we're on Relief. But my husband has been un- able to get g white collar job, because there's so much red tape in your organization"
 Hopkins cleared his throat.
 That may very well be true" he said. Lets have the facts, and I'll look into it." He took notes on the case, said he was sorry, and got on the train again. At St. Louis, he got his Washington office on the long distance phone, dictated the facts, and ordered a special investiga- tion.
 And. now the woman of Terre Haute is relieved. She says: I'm so glad I had courage to speak to him. I recognized him from his pictures in the news papers"
 Left-Wing Secrecy
 Some secret pow-wows recently held by Progressive leaders have aroused lot of curiosity in both Republican and Democratic ranks.
 In fact, to use the word "curi- oSity' is to put it mildly. Old party leaders have been eaten up with desire to know what went on during the following meetings:
 A secret three-hour confer ence in New York between Mayor LaGuardia, Senator Bob Lafollette and his brother Phil, Governor of Wisconsin. When news of the meeting leaked out ten days later, all three de- clined to intimate what they were discussing.
 A secret conference between Mayor LaGuardia and Clifford Pinchot, ex-Governor of Penn- sylvania.
 "A meeting of Wisconsin Pro- gressives, Socialists, Farmer Laborites and other left wing forces in Milwaukee, at which 8 united front organization was agreed upon.
 In addition to these, Democratic and Republican leaders consider significant the letter sent by Floyd Olson, Farmer-Labor Gov ernor of Minnesota, urging liberal and left-wing leaders throughout the country to combine against reaction and fascism."
 Also they are keeping their eyes on plans of insurgent chiefs for a meeting sometime in. January.
 Most of the old party politicos doubt that these maneuvers are aimed at a Third Party in 1886. They know that Olson, LaFol- lette and LaGuardia are toe shrewd to launch such 8 move before the time is ripe. Furthermore, most of the left-wingers are for Roosevelt, in the last analysis. At times they criticize him bitterly, claim he is timid and vacillating. But most of them believe his defeat would be a serious blow to liber- alism.
 Some of the curious ones think this may be the clue to the behind-the-scenes activity of the Progressives. Perhaps they are preparing to launch 8 united- front organization next spring to support Roosevelt in 1856.
 Mail Bag
 L. s. T., Spokane, Wash.-No slip has occurred in Coulee Dam The reported slip was highway bridge 5000 feet downstream from the dam. One of it's piers did not actually slip but tilted one-half degree out of plumb ... M. B., New York City-Illus- trations used in Herbert Agar's Land of the Free" are from Public Works of Art, not the new Works Progress projects. Otfi- cials explain such use is allow able in private printing when the effect is to explain what the Government is doing. F. F. H., Pittsburgh-The President has declined to comment on the de- partIre of the Lindberghs. The question put to him at press con- ference was, "Do you think crime has gotten so bad that 1t is nc