Imperial Valley press., 1938-06-20
News Behind
the News
Surplus Clothing ,-..---
Overproduced Necessity .


Observation-Disclosures that
the government will buy surplus
eupplias of clothing for distribution
II people who can't afford to pay
fer any. as proposed by Sidney
Hillman. reflects growing determin-
alton in washington to provide
"over-produced' necessities of life
for those who lack them.
The plan considered by WPA Off
cials for mems clothing would oper-
ate similarly to the Federal Surplus
Commodities Corporation, which
will be rapidly expanded. The
FSCC program, under which sur
plus food is bought for distribution
to relief families, has cost 100000,
900 in five years.
Latest FSCC plan, as yet un-
announced, calls for purchases of
cotton to be made into quilts and
bed ticking for needy families.
Greatly increased distribution of
milk for babies who now 60 with
out is also being considered. Sec
retary Wallace, who believes fam
lies of unemployed workers should
be assured adequate nourishment
and clothing, stresses the impor-
tance of fruits, vegetables, poultry
and dairy products for such fam
lilies.
All this is the exact opposite of
the massacre of the little pigs.
The aim in all programs and
proposals for free distribution is
to avoid displacement of any sales
which might otherwise be made by
retail stores.
Francis Biddle, the slender, quick
Witted and industrious Philadelphia
lawyer selected as counsel for the
IVA investigating committee, was
chosen almost unanimously after
the committee had questioned him
at length. The vote was eight to
one. All Democratic members and
Two Republicans favored Biddle.
Senator Jim Davis of Pennsylvania,
who had telephoned Biddle and
asked him to come to Washington,
didn't vote on the ground that
we're from the same state" Con-
gresham Tom Jenkins Of Ohio,
IVA critic, cast the only vote
against Biddle.
Chairman of the old National
Labor Relations Board in the NRA
period, Biddle left Washington in
di2nant because Roosevelt-adViSed
by Donald Richberg-had interfer-
ed with the board and failed to
it. A member Of one Of
Philadelphia first families, BiddlC
has demonstrated independence,
bravery. ability and willingness 10
express himself freely and frankly.
AS Roosevelt invited Senator
Gillette to lunch, certain previously
concealed facts anent the Iowa prl-
mary began to leak out. For in
stance:
Jim Farley originally picked Con-
gresham Otha Wearin to oppose
Gillette, partly because Wearin
looked like a farmer, partly because
he had money to finance his own
Farley had expected to
get Governor Kraschel on Wearin's
side and Roosevelt was cocksure he
could make Secretary Wallace sup
port Wcarin. Both failed.
Farley pulled in his neck, neither
he nor Roosevelt daring to expose
themselves as long as Wallace re-
fused The Harry Hopkins state
mcnt for Wearin was partly design
ed to smoke Wallace out That fail
ed, too.
Jimmy Roosevelt went in with
a left-handCd endorsement of Wear
in in order to help Hopkins out OF
a hole. Although Jimmy denied
hc had had plans to 90 to Iowa
for Wearin, explaining MS doctors
wouldn't have permitted them, the
fact is that Jimmy had made ar
with Ed Dunn Of Mason
S U NJ NJ ms
No. 1927
90 -