Evening star., 1936-04-12
HAGOOD STATUS
STILL A MYSTERY
General and White House
Silent on "ShoWdoWn"
Conference.
BACKGROUND

Because ne called W. p. A. tundS
"stage money" hard to get for
worthwhile projects, but easy to
obtain for ineonsequentidl purposes.
Maj. Gen. johnson Haoood wds re-
lieped OF command OF Sth Corps
Area and ordered to home to dwdit
further orders.
Incident aroused political storm
In House and Senate, but no de-
pdrtment action has been taken to-
Ddrd restoring Hdgood to active
duty.
By the Associated Press.
Maj. Gen. johnson Hagood, who
was sent Into military exile after his
criticism Of w. P. A. spending. left
a Showdown" conference with Pres
ident Roosevelt at the White House
yesterday without disclosing whether
he would be restored to active duty or
retire to enter business or politics.
The White House was equally reti-
cent concerning the Presidents deci-
sion as to the generals future, but
indicated an announcement might be
made at the War Departmet early this
week.
While Gen. Hagood remained silent
concerning his plans for the future,
friends said that unless he was as
signed to command an Army Corps
area, preferably in New York City. he
would insist on retiring to take ad-
vantage Of other opportunities"
Report Attractive Offer.
An informed source said Gen. Ha-
good had been offered high executive
position with a Chicago mail order
house. and might retire to accept
the opportunity. regardless of what
final action was taken in his case.
Hagood sped to Chicago "on private
business" Immediately after his first
conference with the President or
board the train that took the latter
to Florida on his fishing vacation or
March %.
The general refused to comment
yesterday on the reported business
offer.
Political circles here also have dis
cussed a report-never denied by Ha-
good-thst he might enter politics in
his native State of South Carolina by
becoming a candidate against Senator
Byrnes, administration stalwart, who
is up for reelection this November.
President Roosevelt. as Commander
in Chief Of the military forces, ma!
restore Hagood to active duty with
command of the 9Th Corps Area al
Chicago or the I'd Corps Area at New
York. to which he would ordinarily be
entitled by reason of his being tht
third ranking general officer in the
Army.
The general, clad in civilian clothes
was bombarded by questions from
newspaper men as he left the White
House yesterday, but side-stepped any
discussion of his talk with the Presi.
dent.
II have nothing to report" he In
sisted, land anything concerning my
visit must come from the White
House"
In excellent humor, the general par
ried his questioners jocularly. to tn
delight Of a group of Easter sight
seers clustered nearby.
What did you see the Presiden
about?" he was asked.
About $780," the general answer
ed.
You seem to exude optimism. Ma!
we draw the inference that"
You may draw the inference tha
my wife told me to be jovial here
after when facing newspaper men o.
photographers, because you all had m
looking so sour when I saw tn
President on his trip South" Hagoot
responded.
What are you going to do next?'
Tin going to lunch with my daugh'
ter, the wife of Comdr. Holloway O.
the Navy"