The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-18

4AS 0UttCS MOklt0kiAS MnAkAGkO
Voice." q potent labor paper IN
the state which previously has
strongly backed Wheeler, In its
latest Issue refers to him as "a
former progressive" and excoriates
hi Ynfor boiling the President.
The left-wing attack has got
under Wheelers hide. He reSents
It deeply - which accounts for
the bitter personal feeling he is
displaying toward Roosevelt.
But, while furious at his critics,
Wheeler has no illusions about
their political potency, and Is fully
aware that he. Is travelling in
strange company on the court
issue. 80 behind the scenes he
IL making an earnest effort to
put himself back In their good
graces.
A new railroad pension bill
viii soon be offered. Wheeler
wants to be the sponsor Of the
measure.
As chairman OF The Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee,
which will handle the legisla-
ton, and as an old friend Of
railroad labor, Wheeler Ordin-
ariIy wOul dbe the unquestioned
choice for this role. But the rail-
roads evince marked GOODNESS
toward the idea.
Very angry at the Suprern
Court, which junked their first
pension measure, they hotly re-
sent Wheeler's hostility toward the
Presidents plan. Secondly, as
practical politicians, they fear re-
prisals against their measure from
Roosevelt supporters II Wheeler's
name Is attached to 1t.
so they are holding him off,
undecided what to do, while
Wheeler Is afxiously pulling wires
to get his name on their bill.
Cautious WoOdring
Diminutive Harry Woodring is
q cautious, careful gentleman.
Appointed temporary secretary Of
war after the death Of George
Dern, Woodring heard rumors that
he would be replaced, that DASH
ing Paul McNutt, Ex-Governor Of
Indiana, would succeed him.
SO Harry did not get himself
out on limb. He remained in
his old office as assistant secre-
tary of war, did not move into the
vacant office Of the late Secretary
Dern.
II was more than O coincidence
that Woodring did not move into
Dern's office until the day before
McNutt took the oath Of office as
high commissioner to the Philip
pines.
New Maritime Board
The new Maritime Commission
appointed by the President, ac-
tlally Is Just another temporary
set-up. Only two, possibly hree,
OF the five men he named are
slated to fill out their terms.
One is x-Congressman Edward
@. Moran, the Maine New Dealer
who refused to run for reelection
last year because he could not
stomach the senatorial candidacy
of Governor Louis Brann. Another
is Thomas M. Woodward, former
member Of the old Shipping Board
Advisory Committee, who was
ouSted by Secretary Dan Roper
because Of his insistcnce that ship
ping interests live UP to their
agreements with the government.
Chairman Joseph p. Kennedy,
able executive who formerly head
ed the Securities and Exchange
Commission was given o two-year
term. but will stay only six
months.
Squeeze Play t
Kennedy has extensive business
and financial interests, had no de-
sire or intention to return to
washington. But the President,
hard put to find a satisfactory
chairman Of the commission, put
the squeeze" on his old friend.
The deay before the appointment
was announced, he caleld up Ken
needy by long distance phone, said:
"Joe, I'm naming you chair
man of the Maritime Commits
siOn."
aBut, Mr.. President" pro-
tested Kennedy, II can't ="
"Joe. you lust have to do this
favor for me," Roosevelt in
sisted. III must have someone
who can do o fast and thorough
organization Job. The commits
sion Is badly In need Of re-
organization and there Is no
man who can do Il better than
you.
"Stay with the Job until the
pending subsidy disputes have
been cleaned up. The law re-
quires them 10 be settled by
July I.
Then, after you have put the
commission ON its feet, you can
step out IL you wish"
Pinch Hitter
On this understanding, Kennedy
agreed to lay aside his private af-
fairs and return to public har-
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