The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-15

reasons TOT his trip.
 Behind this secrecy is that President Roosevelt has asked him to make survey of the material of European armies, what the status of preparedness is on the part of the Germans, French and British.
 Two points particularly interest the President.
 ONE: is whether Germany has been successful in substituting syn- thetic materials for wool, rubber, oil, etc. Reports received by the War Department are that during the Nazi advance into Aus tria, German substitutes broke down completely. Synthetic tires blew out and synthetic oil failed to function. This is supposed to be one reason for the milder tone Germany is now taking toward Czechoslovakia.
 SECOND is whether British re- armament is catching up with the German, or whether the latter is keeping its previous distance ahead of the British.
 Since Baruch was Woodrow Wilson's head of the War Industries Board, Roosevelt fig ured him well qualified to make this study.
 Biscuit-Passin' Pappy
 Few Texans can tell you even half the names of the fourteen candidates who are running for governor in the state this year, but everybody in Texas knows that w. Lee ODaniel, Ft. Worth's grooming flour salesman, is one of them.
 In fact, lot of the wise boys won't be surprised if he romps in the winner. They say that if he gets into the run-off elec- tion, victory is cinched.
 Win or lose, O'Daniel is sure of one triumph. Without doubt he is this years prize hoopla candidate. His platform is as follows: The Golden Rule, The Ten Commandments, A Business Man in the State House, and $50 a month pension for everyone in Texas over 60. ...
 In addition he has melliflu- ous radio voice that women gush over and a hill-billy band that delights both young and old. He is on the air every morning at 6:45 with combination pro- gram of flour peddling, honey preachments, electioneering chat ter and hill-billy crooning; while during the day he campaigns with sound truck and band.
 His favorite ditty is entitled, Please Pass the Biscuits, Pappy." This refrain and his practice of breaking into song when asked an embarrassing question such as one about his anti-labor rec0rd-has made him known as "the biscuit-pass- in pappy".
 One opposition shot, however, did penetrate his grooming evasive- ness. Word went out that he was Yankee carpet-bagger and for once O'Daniel answered back. In his next morning program he denounced the report as a ras- tardly canard, and with a sob in his voice said: Folks, how could any man with the name of Lee be a Yankee?"
 O'Daniel didn't actually claim any relationship to Robert E. Lee, but he stopped just short of 1t. CrOwd-Puller
 ODaniel got into the race through his flour selling program. One morning he remarked that it looked like "most every other man in Texas was running for governor and it had occurred to him that he might take shot at 1t. He asked his listeners to write him what they thought of the idea. ODaniel claims he got 57,000 letters urging him to run.
 His candidacy has completely upset the political dope Before ms entry the race was chiefly be- tween Attorney General Bill Mo- Graw and State Railroad Con- missioner Ernest Thompson. They are still running strong, but if crowds are any indication of sen- timent, O'Daniel is far ahead of them.
 He is drawing huge throngs, At one appearance in the sta- dium of Texas university, he had more listeners than the crowd that witnessed the foot ball game between Texas U. and it's traditional rival, Texas Christian.
 There is one factor, however, that may clip ODaniels blatant wings. Organized labor is mili- tantly against him because he em- OrSwH Iw>WUwS