Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-24
Jones Choice
For Cabinet as
Hopkins Resigns
Loan Administrator
To Be Offered Post
As Commerce Head
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

HT6SlOeIlL fOOSeVelL UOQdy accept"
ed the resignation of Harry l.. Hop
kins as Secretary of Commerce, and
the White House announced inme-
diately that the cabinet post will be
offered to Federal Loan Admins
traitor Jesse H. Jones.
Giving poor health as the reason
for his action, Mr.. Hopkins ten
dered his resignation in a letter
dated Thursday and asked that it
become effective lin the immediate
future"
In addition to disclosing that Mr..
Jones is first choice for the post.
the White House confirmed reports
that the undersecretaryship of
commerce has been offered to Louis
johnson, former Assistant Secretary
of War. This position was made
vacant by the recent resignation of
Edward j. Noble. and Mr. Johnson's
decision is expected early next week.
Future Plans Undisclosed.
Mr.. Hopkins gave no indication
in his letter of resignation as to
his future plans but it has been
reported frequently that he would
assist the President in the estab-
lishment and maintenance of the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library at
Hyde Park. In recent months Mr..
Hopkins has been aggressively &C
tive politically on behalf of third
term for Mr.. Roosevelt
Doth tho 1oftpr ond
that of the Chief Executive con-
tanned emphatic expressions Of
abiding friendship between the two
men and reflected an intention to
continue their association in private
life
Their association dates back to
the years when Mr.. Roosevelt was
a New York State official and Mr..
Hopkins was a social worker in
New York City. When Mr.. Roose-
welt became President and the Fed.
eral Government undertook respon-
sibility for relief of the unemployed.
he summoned Mr. Hopkins to WASH
ington to be administrator of this
program. Failing health led Mr..
Hopkins to resign this post after
several years of intense effort and q
long period of convalescence fol-
lowed before he took place in the
Roosevelt cabinet. His resignation
after about 10 months of service in
the Commerce post leaves two cabi-
net vacancies at the present time.
Postmaster General Farley resigned
earlier this month.
Letter Deals With Duties.
Although Mr.. Hopkins has been
considered on the road to physical
recovery, his letter of resignation
reveals his belief that a cabinet
post in the present emergency period
requires more vigorous and con-
tinuous application to duty than he
is able to give. His letter, dealing
largely with this emergency require
ment and the background of wartime
needs. follows in full:
My dear Mr. President:
The tenth of May, 1910. was an
important and fateful date.
1T seemed tome then that our
oltuotAoll wac CAlllA4d4 W lAldb VA Wv
British before the outbreak of war.
In the months proceeding that event
many Englishmen believed the con-
f1ict could be avoided by concession.
Others thought there was no i'm
mediate threat from Germany; that
defense preparation could be delayed
with safety. Still others maintained
that any one who wished to
strengthen the defenses of Britain
was war mongerer.'
The experience of Britain has
shown that where the national in
terest and security are at stake, we
are justified in making only the
most pessimistic assumptions. To
do otherwise is to be too late at
every stage, to invite attack when
it suits the aggressor, to face con-
f1ict half prepared.
Must Marshal Strength.
The only questions at this time
are with regard to the character,
pace and magnitude of our defense
effort. We must build ornaments,
and because of your own foresight
and determination, this is being
done. We must marshal our COM
plete economic strength for the task
of defense This means that instead
of retreating from our social and
economic detectives, we should push
forward vigorously with program
to abolish poverty from the land.
To do less would be to undermine
our security.
That you have resolved these
fundamental questions in your
mind; that you are now leading the
Nation in its gigantic effort to de-
fend itself-is the surest guarantee
of peace for America.
II wanted to resign last May be-
(See HOPKINS, Page AID