The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-31


til after election day. Just why an
exception was made in that partic-
ular cases favor isn't at all clear to
capital commentators.
Furthermore, the Pacific coast
had been given to understand that
the job would go TO one Of its own
denizens. The impression prevailed
that Congressman NJ. c. Wallgren
of the state Of Washington would
get it. It's reported that it had
been definitely promised to him.
Wei. Dempsey isn't Wallgren. the
formers name hadn't been men
toned In connection with a mari
time commissionership. and New
Mexico isn't Practically coastal.
Dempsey likewise isn't bit ac-
ceptable to labor. Among the COM
missions many duties is that OF
adjusting relationships between
shipping companies and their union
seamen. and the New Mexican
hasn't a reputation for getting on
well with organized workers he's
had dealings with.
Labor Trouble
True, his official homs IS in New
Mexico but he's native Pennsyl-
vanian and his business has been
mainly in New York. He been vice
president of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit and Continental Oil and
Asphalt companies and president Of
the United States Asphalt corpora
ton. In these positions he has a
record OF some unpleasant clashes
with such concerns hired toilers.
Naturally he's looked on askance
by unionized sailormen and other
groups that they're affiliated with.
In short, he's regarded as queer
presidential selection.
In an effort to account for it,
quite a few Washington critics re-
call the circumstances Of the last
New Mexican primaries.
At that time Dempsey was a
candidate for the Democratic sem
atorial nomination in opposition to
Senator Dennis Chavez. II general
ly was believed that the New Deal
administration encouraged him.
But he was beaten.
Immediately the cry was raised
that crookedness in the contest was
responsible for his defeat. There
was such an uproar that the justice
departments Federal Bureau Of In
vestigation sent agents to the scene
TO probe the situation. They did
plenty Of quizzing. but FBI Direc-
tor ]. Edgar Hoover never made a
report (nCt published report, any,
way) as to their findings.
Now the question is asked in
Washington:
Didn't Congressman Dempsey,
being shucked out of political life
by his senatorial defeat, threaten
10 force an exposure which would
have been very bad for the New
Deal on the edge OF the election?
"And wasn't he given that mari
time commissionership, in a hurry.
to mollify him."
II would be easier TO solve the
puzzle if one knew what the FBTs
investigators really did find out as
TO the New Mexican primaries.
Suspicious Aroused
That certain senators are suspi-
cious is limited at by the prompt
ness with which several objections
were raised to Dempsey's confrma-
ton Of his presidential appoint
ment-
Senator Guy NJ. Gillette is chair
man Of committee on investiga-
ton Of campaign expenditures, but
its work doesn't exactly 1T into the
matter Of Dempseys maritime
commissionership. however appIic-
able 1t may be TO New Mexicos
local problem.
From other sources comes the
story that the appointment hadn't
anything TO do with the New Mex
leo hght-that the administration
simply wanted Dempsey to make
some New Deal speeches and gave
him his commissionership to per-
suade him TO do IT,
In a way, I'd think that might
class as a campaign expenditure.