The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-01


 husky, two-fisted Irishman, who next to Roosevelt himself has be- come the chief bugaboo of the power companies. His present job as chief of the Rural Electri- fication Administrator is to string electric wires through the farm areas. But in addition he is one of Roosevelt's chief trouble shooters.
 Carmody first broke into the New Deal limelight as chief en- gineer of CWA, the first New Deal relief program. This was in 1883. Harry Hopkins comman- deered him to help with the stupendous task of getting 4,O00,- 900 men busy with made-work-- all within 30 days.
 Still Working
 He took a three-week furlough from the McGraw-Hill Publishing company when he started the CWA job, and that furlough still continues.
 When the three weeks were up, the President persuaded Carmody to continue. When CWA terminated, he was snapped up for the MIRA by General Johnson. When the Blue Eagle folded it's wings, he was appointed to the National Mediation Board for railroads, later to the National Labor Re- latiOns Board.
 Finally, when Morris L. Cooke stepped out as head of Rural Eelectrification, Roosevelt draft ed Carmody to fill his shoes. Tn the short time he has ruled the REA, Carmody has completely revitalized this important agency.
 His predecessor is an enlight- ened and well-meaning expert. but Cooke's handling of REA af- fairs was characterized by a cer- tain timidity and fear of beard- ing the power companies. Cai- mody is handicapped by no such qualmS.
 He talks cold turkey to the utilities. If they are willing to cooperate and furnish the REA- financed farmer coopera- tives with juice at reasonable rates, he is ready to sign up with them. If they are not, he is just as ready to erect compet- ing power plants. Above all he bars prolonged negotiations, which always plays into the hands of the utilities.
 Carmody has been administra- tor for two months. In these two months he has authorized the construction of almost as many generating plants as Cooke approved in more than two years. COlOrfuI Career
 Carmody's business career has been as varied and colorful as his government service.
 He started as a clerk and book keeper, and while still a youth managed an Elmira, N. Y., foot ball team. From this he gradu- ated to manager of Cuban steel mill, followed by a similar post in a Cleveland garment factory. Then he was vice president of a West Virginia coal company, g member of a New York engineer ing firm, and editor of Coal Age" and another technical jour nal when he was summoned to Washington.
 John Michaels speciality has always been labor relations. In 1922 he surveyed bituminous coal labor for the U. s. Coal Commission and in 1881 made 8 survey of industrial develop ments in Russia. He was the chairman of the BituminOus Coal Labor Board in 1883 when Harry Hopkins summoned him to the CWA.
 Carmody is 51 years old, was born on a farm in Bradford County, Pa, and attended Co., lumbia university. He is married and has a young daughter.
 One of Carmody's pet hates is labor spies. Once, when he was a subordinate official in a steel mill, he went to the general man. ager and insisted that all stool pigeons be fired.
 "Either you get rid of those rats," CarmOdy demanded, Cor quit"
 The undercover agents were dis missed.
 Fortnight
 Among his friends and asso- ciates Carmody is famous for his colorful forthrightness. The only man who equals him in vividness and originality of expression is General Johnson.
 He has fighting mans voice and temper. When going full blast NEE THP DECnDR