The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-28

Wnetner wise Or not, all agree
that the strategy of Patti McNutt
today has changed. Furthermore,
all agree that he-of -the-platinum-
hair has made more progress
toward the Democratic nominal
ton than any other candidate In
the stable.
McNutt's strategy today is SUBJ
tie, steady and successful. In the
first place, he has been doing
good job as Federal Security Adj
ninistrator. Second, he has Wis
listed with small groups of key po-
litical leaders in important states.
Finally, he has made a strong bid
for the inner New Deal circle.
This last move is especially sig
nificant. When first appointed Sc
curity Administrator, the Brain
Trusters were openly hostile
toward him. Now they are thaw-
ing out.
In fact, some Of his speeches
have all the earmarks of being
inspired, II not actually written
by potent New Deal advisers.
Obviously they are written with
the idea Of laying low the pre-
viOus reputation that McNutt
was conservative and dictatorial.
NOTE-A recent McNutt speech
before the Washington unit of the
Natioral Lawyers Guild was a
ringing defense Of civil liberties.
WENDELL WILLKIE
But while McNutt has been busy
counting New Dealers, he hasn't
neglected the other side of the
political fence. One of his strong
supporters Is Wendell Willkie,
head of Commonwealth and
Southern, and and the No. / foe
Of Rooseveltian power policies.
Willkie was a classmate of Nc
Nuts at Indiana University, ana
they have been close friends for
years. Neither, however, Is adver-
Using the fact that McNutt has
Wilkes backing. When the two
men were In Cleveland on the
day last week, newspapers play
fully specialized that Willkie
might run for president himself.
Asked what he thought Of
General J0hnsCn's n0mina tl0n
Of Willkie for president, Willkie
replied: ITS the best offer I've
had yet"
Privately, Wilkie says, with n
grin: Eyes, sir! I'm for McNutt,
but I'm not saying SO for fear II
might hurt him."
NOTE-In school In Indiana, Nc
Mutt and Wilkie were friendly
enemies. McNutt, the son Of
prominent Judge, was the nattily
groomed leader of the fraternity
faction; while Willkie, son of a
Socialist lawyer, was a rumpled
radical who led the "barbarians.'
TWO PER CENT CLUB
Another tip-off to McNutt's am
billions is the sudden resignation
OF Frank McFiale and Bowman
Elder as treasurer and director of
the Two Per Cent Club. This is
the club organized In 1888 during
McNutt's first term as Governor,
to supply Indiana Democrats with
campaign funds. Each appontive
office holder Is required to con-
tribute two per cent of his salary
to the club.
pressure Of other duties" was
the explanation given by McHale
and Elder for stepping out, but
real reason was to dissociate Nc
Nuts presidential campaign from
any connection with the club.
RETIRED BRAIN TRUSTERS
Two of the biggest headliners of
the early New Deal are back in
Washington again, and nobody
pays any attention to them. One
is the much harried ex-Adminis-
traitor of Resettlement, Rex Tug
well; the other. Labor Depart
ment's former crack conciiator,
Ed McGrady.
In the late Resettlement days.
when the lightning had struck
about Tugwell's head. he with
drew from public contacts, became
almost inaccessible. Today, he Is
so accessible that anybody can
find his name in the phone book
in the Washington suburb of
Alexandria. Virginia.
No longer Is his telephone un-
listed Tugwell does not even have
an individual line, but u two-party
line which saves him IS cents a