The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-31
EARLY H0LD DIS
KEY POST WITH
PRESIDENT
BY EARL GOODWIN

For the first time in all his po-
litical career Franklin D. Roose-
welt is being represented personally
at Democratic headquarters by
someone other than the late Louis
Howe, his beloved and trusted for
mer secretary; and the fact that
the President is thus depending on
steve" Early for the politiCal-per.
sonal contacts is interesting to
Washingtonians who watch the
trend of things
The post of Secretary to the
President is still open. The Presl-
dent has not made an appoint
ment; the belief is still quite as
strong as it was when Colonel
Howe died that there would never
be another secretary while Presi-
dent Roosevelt remained in office.
That job and title in this Admins
tration apparently belong pecu-
liarly to Mr.. Howe, whether he is
here or across the Great Divide.
Early WAN VI IAOuE
But, while Mr.. Early probably
would blow up with a loud report
and resent anyone who said it to
him straight, there is daily evil
dence that the work which neces-
sarily must be completely conf
Dental, work of the most impor-
tant and delicate nature in cam
paign year, is apparently being
routed through "Steve's" office.
And at that there is no intention
OF deprecating the work of the
other assistant secretary, Marvin
Mcintyre, who is the contact man,
handshaker de luxe, fiXer, smooth
er, tireless listener to other peo-
rlefs troubles, and what not. 1t
seems to be just fate that the
tremendous amount of unknown,
unseen, hidden, mysterious and
dangerously important White
House work, some o. which pre-.
sumably would have been Mr.
HoTe's, is now being done by Mr..
Early.
Howe Sadly Missed
However, the fact that Mr..
Early is now recognized as the
Presidents spokesman at Demo
cratic national headquarters in
New York gives the glamorouS
touch, which will make the hang
ers-on everywhere seek him out
as the man on the inside. This
summer, with the President away
half the time, then, you will
see Mr.. Early constantly in the
East, never with the President on
the campaign trains. Instead he
will be the man who stays at the
White House to take care of the
myriad details which are now
keeping the wires hot; and in be-
tween time he will be in New
York, using his eyes and ears for
the Presidents political use. And,
as stated, it will be the first time
the President has not had Louis
Howe to do this work for him.
White House work keeps at a
high pressure. The telephone at
the White House is likely to be
used half a dozen times a day
bv United States Senators call
ing up from anywhere, from the
Pacific Coast or out on the Allan
tic Ocean: and their calls are al
wavs of national importance. They
cali the President now; they get
Mr.. Early. who is directed by the
President to get the thing done
There is little if any delay IN gov,
ernmental executive matters at
the White House because the
President has gone out TO the
drought area.
No Time for Fun
Apparently the President has
borne down heavily on both his
assistant secretaries; they have
little time to play. Watching them
daily, newspaper correspondents
covering the White House note the
fact that there is no time for the
old-fashioned feet on the desk
sessions" in either assistant Secre,
tarys office.
Mr.. McIntyre's role as contact
man and Public Listener requires
not only all his time for more than
eight hours a day, but he has a
hard working office staff of several
people. Getting a word with either
Of these gentlemen sometimes
takes hours. The impression pre-
walls that it Is easier to see the
President himself.