The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-05

QuSCry as well dS I11t11.
 Also the chances are strong that the House will pare down the 21-to-45 age limit to the 21- to-31 range already fixed by the Senate. The toughest hurdle against the bill is the same little noticed one that nearly stopped 1t in the Senate.
 This was the amendment spon- sored by Senators Hayden of Ari- zona and Tydings of Maryland. poStponing the draft for 60 days during which the Army would conduct an intensified drive. Then if an insufficient number of men had been obtained, the remainder would be made up by conscrip- ton.
 Offered in the closing hours of the Senate battle, the plan came within a hairs breadth of passage; being defeated only by two votes, 43 to Al, the closest vote on the legislation. Reason for this was the postpOnement feature of the amendment.
 Facing a hard and uncertain election, the senators, even though favoring the draft, are fearful about putting it into operation until after November 5. Army plans do not contemplate setting conscription machinery into mo- tion until around November 15 but the poiticos prefer not to take even the remotest chances.
 They almost put the 60-day postponement across in the Sem ate, where only one-third of the members are up for election. What will happen in the House, where every congressman faces the polls, remains to be seen.
 MINISTER OF MUNITIONS
 There is a very human story be- hind the appointment of Benedict Crowell, who was assistant secre- tary of war under Woodrow Will son, to aid Secretary of War Stim- son in speeding up national de- fense orders.
 It results from an old friendship between StimSon and Crowell dat ing back to the postwar days, when Crowell was indicted on charges of misappropriating public money in connection with World War orders. Crowell was in charge of munitions purchases during the war, and when the Harding ad- ministration got into power, 1t put into the Justice Department Harry Daugherty of Teapot Dome fame, who had been an old enemy of Crowell's in Ohio politics.
 Shortly thereafter, Cr0well was indicted on charges brought by Daughtery's Justice Depart ment.
 This reused the indignation of Henry L. Stimson who had been secretary of war in the Taft ad- ministration, 8 colonel of field artillery in the World War, and knew how easy 1t was to charge an executive with maladministra- ton of funds. So Stimson, Q Republican, went to Crowell, a Democrat, and offered to defend him.
 The charges against CrOwell were ph0ney and nothing came of them. But this started 8 firm friendship which has c0n- tinued ever since.
 And when Stimson first was ap- pointed secretary of war by Roosevelt, Crowell came to help him by making Q survey of the entire War Department situation. At that time Stinson asked him to serve as his assistant secretary, but Crowell, declining, said that if Stimson found he needed him later. he would come to Washing ton.
 Crowell is now president of the Central National Bank of Cleve- land, but also has been for many yearS president of the Army Ordnance association, thus has kept closely in touch with the munitions problem.
 His Job with etimson Is to rush the production of munitions and make sure there is no lost motion between the National De. fense Commission and the War Department.
 CAPITAL cIEAFT
 The new color scheme on the White House - bluo scaff0ldIng against the white walls, ln pgepaFs Ation for the big job Of ros painting tho mansion PFes- asaea nn kha Gtafa faa1aaR11laaelfin