The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-25

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 Tarninany leaders, bite way he has played ball granting Relief funds and patron. age, are reported to be ready to gang Up on the President.
 It is not unlikely that the 1e96 election will find the democratic machine in New York city throw- ing It's weight against demo. cratic president and for the re- publicaias. If SO, Roosevelt will lose New York state.
 CERTAINLY IF AL SMITH HAS HIS WAY THAT WILL HAPPEN.
 Perfect Technique
 For real artistry In glad-hand. ing Senator "Jiln Ham" Lewis is in . class by himself.
 While standing in Q washing ton hotel lobby the lnagniloquent, toupee-wearing 1llinoian was greeted by an acquaintance, who asked to present Q friend.
 The friend had never met Lewis before, knew him only by reputation. But "Jitn Ham,, ever the canny politician. took no chances. With great warmth he exclaimed:
 'My dear Sir, 70 nice to see you--AGAIN."
 Big No Man
 Quiet-mannered w. Frank Per. sons, director of the U. 6. Elm. ployrnent Service, is rapidly be- coming one of the most unpopu. lar executives in the New Deal. Two potent groups are after his scalp, but 90 far he has persisted linyieldingly on his policies.
 The cause of Persons diSfavor can be summed up in one word--- PATRONAGE. Democratic poli- ticos are up in arms because he insists on Civil Service appointees in his Bureau. Laborites are bit- ter ebcause he ia loading up his staff with college men.
 The union leaders angrily con. tend that practical men taken from trade ranks, would make better employment directors than college graduate who may know little or nothing about working mems jobs. N
 Persons, . former Russell Sage Foundation researcher, can't see the argument of either group. To tho politicians he replies that the only way to build up an efficient, trust worthy service is to plck men solely on the basis of merit and give them persnanenee Of ten- ure. To the Iab0vites he retorts that directing an employment office requires more background and training than trade expcri- ence.
 How long Persons will be al- lowed to hew the lofty line he has set remains to be seen. With the 1e36 campaign looming he may find that the demands of politics are more powerful than those of principle.
 Federal Theatre
 It troubles Hallie Flanagan that she can't put elephants on Relief.
 "I have . friend who is . flrst.cIass circus performer. but he can't d0his act without his elephants, and we can't sup- port the elephants. I wish we cOuld.r
 IIaille Flanagan is e blonde, school-marEnish little woman of 34, who left off being director of dramatics ct Vassar college to become director of the biggest theatrical producing organization in the world. It is the WPA Theatrical Project. She has fifty plays in rehearsal ct one time; employs 1881 actors and stage hands.
 Half of these are men and wo. men who have been pounding the sidewalks of Broadway. The other half come chiefly from Los An- geles, Boston, and Chicago. But by a recent ruling, they can perform outside their own states.
 Miss Tlanagan says actors are getting over the sense of shame they had about being in Q Relief troupe.
 we've got some of the best known actors i'm the country" she boasts. "And pIaywrights, too. But they are working at research projects"
 Research Plays
 The trick here is that if a playwright writes play on Uncle 6am's time, the play becomes the property of the government. So they do research work" for their Relief wage, and creative work on the side..
 Hallie Flanagan got a reputa- ton for sternness when she once reprimanded President McCrack- en of Vassar for being late at a rehearsal. Fact is, however, she is timid and press-shy.
 Harry Hopkins drafted Miss Flanagan because he knew her at GrinneIl College, Iowa, where they both studied. But Miss Flanagan prefers to speak not of GrinnclI, but of Radcliffe and Vassar. When her study of the Russian thater ls mentioned she prefers tO stress that she