The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-11-05


ring can return to his original
position Of Assistant Secretary II
he wants to, or otherwise go his
way. The little bald-pated KAN
san is far from popular In the
White House. His talent for say
ing the wrong thing at the wrong
moment, plus his general way OF
handling things have aroused
Presidential wrath on o number
Of occasions. ~
Woodring was elevated to the
Secretaryship on Dern's death
only because the Constitution re-
quires that Cabinet posts be filled
in 30 days. Occupied with the
campaign, the President lacked
both the time and inclination TO
pick q permanent successor. 30
he boosted Woodring temporarily
and over the objections OF q
number Of political advisers, who
opposed the promotion on the
ground that It would not help the
President In Kansas, where
Woodring Is not too popular.
Cummings to Go
Attorney General Homer Cum
mings, headed for the exit. A
charming gentleman and gracious
host, Cummings administration
Of the Justice Department Is one
OF the weakest links In the New
Deal. He has consistently pussy
footed on antitrust enforcement,
and until recently his stah was
loaded down with mediocrities
and patronage hacks.
Also, Cummings permitted y
subordinate, J. Edgar Hoover, TO
grab all the credit for the Ad-
ministration's history making
crime suppressi0n prOgra m.
This, secretly, IL o sore point IN
the inner White House circle,
and Cummings Is slated for o
kick upstairs-as soon rs D
place can be found TO kick him
TO. -.
Farley Can Stay, But Won't
Postmaster General James Far
ley, "a voluntary lame-duck.
Roosevelt wants Farley TO remain
In the Cabinet, but much as nc
likes the kudos that goes with the
office, Jim insists he can't afford
to continue, He will return and
fill out his term, but after the
first Of the year he will return to
private life and o big salary bust
ness connection. Jim will contirl-
ue, however, as democratic ma"
tional chairman.
Secretary Of the Navy Claude
Swanson, due for retirement as
quickly as he can be pried loose
from his post. Long In poor
health, Swanson has clutched his
Job with grim tenacity. Besides
his lack OF effectiveness, the aged
Virginian has o faculty OF BURST
ing forth with sword-rattling dec
larnations ut inopportune mo-
ments, much to the distress OF
both the President and the state
Department. f~
Ickes TO Stay
Secretary Of the Interior Harold
Ickes will remain, though 1t didn't
look so for O while. There have
been occasions when the hard
hitting Chicagoan has got very
much In the hair OF the President
On the other hand, Ickes Is one
member of his official family
Roosevelt trusts implicitly ana re-
spects deeply. Eventually 1ckes
may be offered some long-term
high office.
Secretary OF Agriculture Henry
Wallace, O certain hold-over.
Wallace Is one man who has
grown In stature and popular es-
TEEN during his four years IN
ONCE, He has O strong hold on
the farmers, and the President
regards him with deep personal
affection.
"Uncle" Dan Heads
the Parade
Secretary Of Commerce Daniel
Roper, No. ! on the decapitataon
list. Roper rs the biggest flop Of
the Cabinet. His department is
O chaos OF incompetence, con-
fusion and dissensiW. It y des-
perately In need OF O drastic
house cleaning and reorganiza-
ton. Roper owed his appoint.
ment to the fact that he helped
swing his old friend Senator WILL
liam Gibbs McAdoo-and with
him 0arner--to Roosevelt OF o
crucial moment In the 1882 con-
vention.
But the President now feels
this debt has been more than
paid--both In regard TO Roper
and TO the numerous members
Of his family on the Govern
ment payroll.
Madam Perkins
Her Own Executi0ner
Secretary Of Labor Frances
Perkins, semi-voluntary de-
parter. Mics Perkins would like
TO remain in the Cabinet. But al
though she Is personally esteemed
by the Presidents-and even more
SO by MRS. Roosevelt-she Is
definitely unpopular In official
circles. Congress has repeatedly
slapped her; while an unfortunate
snippy manner with newspaper
men has not enhanced her popu-
larity with the Press.