The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-11-18

nY dlS watching q
NeU new experiment
Experiment by Pres d n
Roosevelt W h
more than passing interest. They
are watching this experiment be-
cause of various circumstances, in
Guiding obviously it's political
phases, for they realize that the
President has stepped out into a
hitherto untrod field, unplowed
ground, in this new experiment.
Chiefly because it is something
entirely new and not because any
one yet can tell what is going to
happen, I want to report this week
on the Presidents plan to have his
eldest son, James, his No. sec
rotary, serve as a clearing house
between the Chief Executive and
some eighteen or more government
agencies. Roosevelt, the younger,
has been designated by the Presi-
dent to sit down once each week
with heads of each of the enumerat-
ed agencies and talk over their
problems, iron out those which he
can help solve, coordinate the work
between them as far as he is able
to do so, and, most important to the
men with whom he deals, decide
which questions confronting these
units of government may be matters
for the Presidents personal consid-
Grafton.
1t is big order. But Jimmy,
as he is known around here, is a
big man, at least physically, be-
cause he stands something like six
feet, one inch. He is twenty-nine
years DID,
The audiences at the White House
with Jimmy have already started
and the agency heads who have
sat through the conferences seem
well pleased. At least, there
has been no criticism yet, no signs
of jealousy or indications of dis
sent among those who are called
upon to take up their problems
with the young secretary to the
President In fact, I have heard in
only a few places revival of the
punning that went out a couple of
years ago when the Roosevelt for
King" game was in its heyday, and
Jimmy was laughingly labeled as
the crown prince. Thus, the plan
surely seems to have started off
most auspiciously. But as I said,
what success, what trials and tribu-
lations, await it, no one can say.
Undoubtedly, President Roosevelt
has started a plan of action that has
much to be said in
Nuch IN its favor. It has,
Its FAVOR of course, many
possibilities of
trouble, and there surely is argu-
ment against having the White
House secretariat determine policy
when the President has been elected
to that job. Yet, at this time,
credit must be argued along with
signs and portents of trouble.
First, let us recognize that the Of
fee of President of the United States
is man-killing job. There is moth
ing like it anywhere else in the
world There are not too many men
who can stand up under the load
of work and worry that is contin-
ually on the shoulders of the head
of the nation. There is no way
possible for him to escape it. Vaca-
tons? Sleep? Absence from Wash
ington? Not chance. The work
and worry is with him always, ev-
cry minute out of his twenty-four
hour day.
Thus, if there is any way that
can be devised to lift some of the
burden, it ought to be done. No
way has been found heretofore,
however, and the milestone contin-
ues around the Presidents neck.
On the other hand, this is a de-
mocracy. In the opinion of many
persons, there already is too much
power lodged in the hands of in
dividuals who were not elected, but
were appointed, to office. The
President has vast power and he
has to unload it somewhere into the
hands of those he appoints. Never
theless, throughout the federal gov
eminent scores of men and wom-
en- exercise very great authority
over your life and mine who were
personally selected by the Presi-
dent-for whom none of us voted
when we voted for a presidential
nominee. Result: red tape, rules
and regulations, dos and don'ts ga
lore, until we hardly know whether
we can eat our food without trans
crossing or failing to comply with
some federal regulation.
All of that is by way of saying
that by implementing the relation
ship between the President and men
and women whom he has appoint
ed to office through the insertion of
an added wheel of authority, there
lie potential changes in all of
these governmental policies And
there lies the possibility of changes
being made, for better or for worse,
without the President having knowl-
edge of them.
what OF the personal Slde-the
feelings of the officials who have
to deal with young man who can
speak, to some extent at least, for
his father, the President? AS l said
earlier, thus far none of the con-
ferees have given any indication of
disturbed feelings. They may never
have any thoughts along this line.
Yet, l venture this observations: if
they don't resent having the Presi-
dents son tell them what to do, or
not to do, at some time or other,
the officials concerned will be unlike
most other human beings.
/ am not saying that there will be
loud bowls. Nor am saying that
any of these individuals will get