The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-12
.|CKES-TYD|NGS
FEUD GAGGED
BY ROOSEVELT
Secretary, Senator Called
to White House, Told
to End CIamor.
Bu EMited Press

BY CnJI6u FJ6SS
WASHINGTON, July 12.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt clapped his personal
gag rule on high Democratic off,
Gals today to silence their bitter
outbursts over Administration of the
Virgin Islands.
He ended the tempest in a rum
pot"-so-called because the govern
ment operates a distillery on the
insular possesSions-by forcing Har-
old L. Ickes, Secretary of Interior
and Senator Willard E. Tydings 3D.,
Md to call a truce.
They had been disrupting official
harmony over a relatively unirn-
portant matter by exchanging per-
sonal invectives in press confer
ences and in letters.
Mr.. Ickes supported Gov. Paul M.
Pearson against charges of mall
administration. Senator Tydings,
chairman of the senatorial COM
mittee investigating the allegations,
stood behind Federal Judge T.
Weber Wilson, foe of both Mr..
Ickes and his Gov. Pearson.
Called TO White House
Mr.. Ickes accused Mr. Tydings of
,'unfairness" and of withdrawing"
Judge Wilson against his charge of
judicial misconduct" The South
ern Senator said Mr.. Ickes was in
timidating" committee witnesses and
told him ito conf1ne yourself to the
duties for which you were ap-
pointed"
Mr.. Ickes was preparing an an
swer when President Roosevelt sum-
moned him to the White House.
Then Senator Tydings visited the
President. Then Mr.. Ickes again.
Both left completely subdued. Mr..
Ickes refused to comment on re-
ports both Gov. Pearson and Judge
Wilson would be asked to resign. Mr..
Tydings recessed his investigation.
Atty. Gen. Homer S. Cummings
also came under the Presidents
mo talk" rule. He refused to say
whether or not he was preparing
to remove Judge Wilson in accord
ance with Mr.. Ickes' demand.
The fight established Mr. Ickes
more firmly as WaShington's storm
center, and brought to a total of
10 the political suggests in which he
has engaged since taking Office.
Takes TugwelI's Place
In becoming a focal point for all
types of squabbles, he replaced DR..
Rexford Guy Tugwell, Administra-
ton brain truster, as the New
Deals job" always in trouble. The
fact he is a Progressive Republican
in a Democratic Administration
added to his difficulties.
First, he broke with James A.
Farley when he ousted Emil Hurja,
the postmaster generals right-hand
party man, from his Public Works
Administration. Then Mr.. Farley
became irate over reports that the
interior departments chief investi-
gator, Louis r. CLAWS, had been
delving into his official and personal
affairs.
Mr.. Ickes withstood criticism from
Democrats because he insisted on
retaining E. <. Burlew, a Repub-
lican, as his administrative assistant.
| Although Mr.. Burlew is a civil serv-
ice career man. many officials
thought such a high position should
go to a Democrat.
Mr.. Ickes last year accused James
A. Moffett, former head of the Fed
eral Housing Administration, of at
tempting to chisel in on PWA's
slum- clearance and low-rent hous-
ing program. President Roosevelt
settled that difference.
The President involved Mr.. Ickes
in another battle. For political rea-
sons dating back to his governorship
of New York, MI. Roosevelt sought
to Dust Robert F. Moses as a mem
Der of the Tri-Borough Bridge Au-
thority administering the PWA prof.
ect. The move failed.