The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-01

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 Both rank high in the Ameri- can Legion, Woodring as former Kansas commander, Johnson as past National commander, and both profess to be devoted sup- porters- of Roosevelt. But there the ties between them end.
 Twice as big and energetic as WOOdring, Johnson frankly is after his superiors job. s
 Almost in the same breath with which he took. the oath of office last year, JAhnson informed in- inmates thatln had been appoint ed for the express purpose of re- placing Woodring in a few months. . The months have run into IS and nothing has happened, but Johnson hasn't stopped assuring friends that his promotion is just around the corner.
 Whether the President prom ised Johnson the No. Job, as the latter claims, is known only to them. This much is cer- tain: % "
 When Woodring was boosted from assistant secretary to suc- ceed the late George Dern, short- ly before the 1886 election, Roose- welt had no intention of making the appointment permanent. Jim Farley and other advisers were strongly against it. Roosevelt's plan was to shunt Woodring later into another spot, possibly in the diplomatic field.
 WOodring Hangs On
 Once installed in the Cabinet, the little Kansan teilaciously re- fused to be kicked upstairs" and Roosevelt, always squeamish about forcihly ridding himself of mem- bers of his official family, let him stay on.
 But it has been a Pyrrhic vic- tory for Woodring. He has the title of Secretary of War and the $15, 1000 salary, but 1t is really Johnson who runs the depart ment.
 When plans for the national defense program were set in motion the President called in Johnson not WOOdring = and entrusted him with the task. Secretary WoOdring hasn't been consulted on any phase of the program. All he knows about 1t Is what he reads in the pa- pers. Johnson has been ROOse- velt's right-hand man i'm na- tionaI defense.
 Woodring is very unhappy in this strange situation = and JoEnson's cock prediction that he will soon have the top job is not making things any more pleas ant. White House insiders say Woodrfng is definitely slated to be kicked upstairs, but when pressed they admit they don't know when or where.
 WPA Victim
 Jim Farley had a very em- barrassing moment at a secret post-election confab with state Democratic leaders in New York.
 To break the ice and create an atmosphere Of informality he sug- gested that each of the chieftains rise and introduce himself. The first to rise was Governor Ed Rivers of Georgia.
 He gave his name, age, other biographical bits: concluded. land I am . lifelong Democrat"
 Following him rose Governor Happy" Chandler of Kentucky, unsuccessful primary candidate against Senator Dear Alben" Barkley, Democratic floor leader.
 My name Is Chanrler," Happy
 said, Governor of Kentucky,
 40 years old, married, a life-
 long Democrat and a victim of
 the WPA."
 The crowd of state leaders roared. Farley flushed deep red, finally joined in the laugh ter.
 Roosevelt Lecturers
 Mrs. Roosevelt and her Repub- lican cousin, Alice Roosevelt Long, worth, are both out on the lec- ture circuit, but there is a big difference in their platform technique.
 Mrs. Roosevelt is frank, gossipy, tells about herself, people in Washington, the human things of being First Lady. Mrs. Long worth, on the other hand, talks only about issues and does it ip very dreary manner.
 The old Alice wit = Calvin Coolidge was weaned on. dill pickle" and Franklin RoOse- welt is 90 per cent Eleanor and 10 per cent mush" = are gone. Mrs. Longworth talks with the spontaneity of Supreme Court Justice reading an opinion.
 While she pans the New Deal,