The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-01-13

WAS1lNS1lON.-M persons III
Washington are convinced that
President Roosevelt has slipped a
fast ball right over the plate in
front of his congressional critics by
the transfer OF Harry Hopkins to
the job, Of secretary Of commerce
and the selection of Col. F. G. Har-
rington as works progress admin
istrator. It appears to some OBJ
servers, certainly, that the presi-
Dental maneuver has gone long
way toward reducing, If not elimi-
mating, the chances Of dirty in
vestigation of WPA and its relief
spending.
The President knew Of the brew
ing trouble that had Hopkins as
the focus; he was told how much
mud singing was due to take place,
and how the haters of Hopkins and
his methods were preparing to leave
no stone unturned in exposing ev-
erything about Hopkins and his or
ganization that could be made to
appear Shiny. Yet, Hopkins is per-
haps the closest of all of the timer
circle" of advisers to the President
and surely he is the Presidents best
personal friend. Naturally, he want
ed to keep Hopkins around.
In naming Hopkins to the post Of
secretary of commerce, vacated
only at Christmastime by the vet
eran official, Daniel c. Roper, Mr..
Roosevelt has had to take the
chance that the appointee would
meet some razzing in senate con-
firmation. That is a chance, of
course, but Mr.. Hopkins will be con-
firmed after the boys in the senate
have had their say. But there will
be little opportunity for the anti
administration Democrats to sink
their teeth into the Hopkins appoint
ment to the commerce job. That
department has less money to
spread about perhaps than most
important government jobs. Admin
istration friends in the senate, there
fore, can say with propriety that a
razzing of Hopkins, as the COM
merce nominee, is not to be i'm
dulged in because this is another
job, not related to spending relief
money.
Appointment of Harrington
Another Strategic M0Ue
am told on very good authority
that this will be the strategy en-
ployed when the Hopkins nominal
ton is under consideration. To all
critics of Hopkins, the administra-
ton friends simply will reply, in
effect, ''you wanted Hopkins out
Of the relief job. Now he is out,
etc." It is undoubtedly a smart
piece of politics and it will work
for awhile.
The President also strengthened
his position in the coming battle
with congress by the appointment
of Colonel Harrington. The colonel
is regular army engineer. He
has been assistant chief engineer Of
WPA and knows the organization.
And most important of all, Colonel
Harrington leans somewhat to the
conservative side, which makes him
acceptable to most senators, even
anti-administration Democrats.
Mr.. Roosevelt is taking no
chances on any ruckus arising over
Colonel Harrington, however, and
has avoided it by a clever piece of
detail. Colonel Harrington has been
designated only as "acting WPA
administrator. He will run the or
ganization as though he were full
fledged on the job. The difference
is that the designation Of the colonel
as acting administrator eliminates
the requirement of senate confir-
nation. In other words, the senate
can do nothing about the Hopkins
successor unless it acts by special
resolution. If the Harrington name
had come in as a nomination, there
.could be wide open exposure OF
WPA tactics by the committee
which would consider the nominal
ton. So it is plain to see that the
President slipped away from his
critics in this manner.
The third angle of the strategy
also is vital to the picture ! am
seeking to present. The chief dep
uty administrator under Hopkins
has been Aubrey Williams. It was
Williams, you may recall, who has
made speeches and has advised
WPA workers to "vote for your
friends" to insist on federal pres
ervation of "your rights" and it
was he who said in speech that
he was inclined to believe that class
hatred was a good thing.
Many Attacks ON Relief
Policies to Be Expected
To keep Mr.. Williams out Of the
clutches of the wolves around the