The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-21

the public works program; Jus tice, which had to defend New Deal legislation before the Su- preme Court; plus the Labor and Commerce Departments and the new relief agencies.
 For six years New Deal emphasis was placed upon the civilian and domestic branches of government.
 But today all that is changed. European war is the reason. To- day, most important branches of the government are the State, War and Navy Departments.
 By some quirk of fate, also, it is two of these three Departments which, just at the time they are needed most, happen to be the weakest in the government.
 Today the Navy is enjoying the largest peace time appropriation in the history of the country. Yet 1t is limping long with only an acting Secretary of the Navy who has been ill part of the time. SICK MEN
 Prior to the depression, the navy had two assistant secretaries, in addition to its chief. Hoover econ- omy eliminated one assistant. But those days of disarmament, and never was it contemplated that the Navy should get along with no secretary and only one as- sistant secretary at time when it is more important to the nation than at any period in 21 years.
 During the six years of the New Deal, the navy was under the command of Claude Swanson, sometimes so i'll that he had to be carried out of Cabinet meetings. Amazing fact is that since Swan- sons death, Roosevelt has con- sidered appointing as secretary of the navy, Harry Hopkins, an- other very sick man. Hopkins has been too i'll to give much at- tention to running his Commerce Department.
 In fact, some of the Presi-
 dents friends almost believe that he is keeping the navy lead-
 erless for the specific reason
 that he wants to be secretary
 of the navy himself.
 WAR MUD-THROWING
 In contrast to the Navy, the War Department today suffers from the fact that there are two virtual secretaries, each one in- tent on running the army.
 One is mild, innocuous, charm ing little Harry Woodring, one of the incest secretaries of war ever to try coping with the generals. The other is dynamic, hard-hit- ting, restless Louis Johnson, who as assistant secretary never is happy unless he Is summoning war councils or mobilizing indus try.
 Rowing between them is so vituperative and vindictive that army officers do not know who is running the War Department, so general efficiency suffers.
 Second result is that major
 War Department decisions go across R0oseveIt's desk. He has to be the arbiter between Wood ring and Johnson. Thus he be- comes secretary of war as well as secretary of the navy. SERVICE MEN AT TOP
 Also it means that the generals, except for major decisions, really run the War Department, and a century of experience has proved that the American system of hav- ing a civilian in charge of mili- tary affairs by all odds is the best.
 Most tragic illustration of what service men do when running the Army and Navy is illustrated in the latter Department, where the admirals have been in full sway ever since the New Deal.
 And with few exceptions they have played the old Navy game. Politics is as rife in the Navy Department as on Capitol Hill. The younger officers and the en- listed men are tops, but the high- CT bracket officers are stagnant. For the most part they have reached high position by influ- ence. They are the men who have pulled wires, have money, and whose wives dine out with the right people.
 Admiral Leahy, the one really big man in the Navy. mas re- tired, and Admiral Stark, who re- places him aS chief onerafsons. ix