The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-09-02

The Navy today lacks a secre-
tary, and double-duty has brok-
en- the health of Its assistant Sec
rotary, Charles Edison. Due to the
personal attention Roosevelt has
given the Navy, however, 1t Is far
better off than the army. Nor
ale within the latter is low, and
recent maneuyers have shown the
results of a divided command at
the top.
For during the past two years,
the War Department has been
torn between tive masters:
Harry Woodring, the mediocre,
pudgy little secretary, and Col.
Louis johnson, assistant secre-
tary and the man wh0 really
runs the department.
WAR DEPARTMENT
THEATRICALS
This confused command re-
suits from just two things: poll
teal luck and the tender heart
OF Franklin Roosevelt. Harry
Woodring, lame duck governor of
Kansas, became assistant secretary
of war when the late Pat Malloy
of Oklahoma turned down the Job.
Then he became acting secretary
of war when George Dern died,
And Roosevelt. being fond of Harry
and an admirer of his vivacious,
socially adept young wife, couldn't
bear to turn him out of Job
in which he was having the time
of his life.
If any efficient Cabinet, how
ever, the welfare of the Army
comes ahead of personal enjoy
ment, and the President belatediy
has come to realize that - even
though 1t took the threat OF world
war to convince him.
New secretary of war at last
is going to be Colonel Louis john
son, boyish. 48-year old West Vir-
ginian. who two years has done
the chief chores In the War De.
partment and executed one Of the
most important jobs of war pre-
paredness - the military mobiliza-
ton of industry.
Mobilizati ton of industry Is some
thing which the War Department
has talked about for years. Skele-
ton plans have been drawn up, in
dustrial leaders have been con-
suited, laws have been proposed In
Congress.
WAR MOBILIZATION
johnson finally got the machine
cry together. partly through
boundless energy and stick-to-it-
iyeness, party by convincing in
dustry that its formulas and trade
secrets would be safeguarded.
johnson even staged knockdown
fight with Homer Cummings, then
attorney general, to prevent secrets
given the Army by the Aluminium
Corporation from being sub
poenaed for the antitrust inves-
tigation. johnson figured that II
these secrets were relinquished, no
other company would cooperate
with the Army.
Like Q lot OF things In life,
J0hnson's entry into politics
was sheer coincidence. Gradu-
ated in law from the University
of Virginia, he decided 10 prac-
tice In 4 town In which he was
n complete stranger. and went to
Ciarkesburg, w. Va, In 1912.
At the time Of his arrival, local
sheriff had been arrested for
cmbezxlement, and q young
lawyer was needed to act ~
prosecutor.
johnson took the Job, fought the
case up to the Supreme Court
and as Q result Of the publicity,
ran for Mayor Of Clarksburg.
This was Just two years after COM
ing to live In West Virginia. john
son lost the mayoralty race by
about 80 votes, but shortly there
after was elected TO the state legis-
lature and became Democratic
leader of the house.
The first World War came.
johnson was mustered out as q
captain OF the S0th Infantry Di-
vision, and on the day he re-
tired, he had the nerve to write
Q lstter 70 the chief of staff telling
him how TO reform the Army. Now
Louis win soon have the op-