The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-10-11
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 'HARRYs'

f.
Part of it is too many Harrys. Be
cause Harry Woodring wouldn't
agree with Harry Morgenthau
on a restrictive tax policy that
paralyzed airplane and other pro-
duction for about eight months, he
had to walk the plank.
In his place came another Harry
Wrong-Horse Harry Stimson. He
came apparently because he had
just made an about interventionist
speech proposing something per-
ilously close to war alliance with
England. At least, he proposed the
jeint use of naval and air bases
which would, for all practical pur-
poses, make us a belligerent in this
war.
Certainly he didn't come to speed
defense on the real front of the Bat
tie of America-which is, at the mo-.
ment, the industrial front. Nobody
can argue that because that would
require a dynamic figure-a man
who knows something about that job.
Wrong Horse Harry not only doesn't
know anything about it, but he is
about as dynamic as shelled
oyster.
When he came, the assistant sec
rotary of war was, by law, charged.
under the secretary's direction, with
making plans and preparations for
our present two great tasks indus
trial and man power mobilization.
A system for this had been under
study and discussion for many
years.
The assistant secretary, Mr.. Louis
Johnson, after many false starts and
a good deal of galloping in place
had at last got his stride. He had
learned his job. He had finally
captured the confidence not only Of
the army, but also of industry and
the public. Things were beginning
to hum. The appointment of Mr..
Stimson was a direct violation Of
promise to him of that portfolio.
The promise was not kept and the
default proved to be even more than
that for Louis johnson.
Mr.. Stimson's first official act was
to demand Mr.. Johnson's official
head on a silver salver. He wanted
his own man. That fratricidal re-
quest was granted and, regardless
of its disconcerting-not to say
paralyzing- effect on the Battle of
America. Mr.. Stimson brought in
his own man, Judge Patterson.
Bad as this helter-skelter playing
of ducks and brakes with national
defense might have been in 50 out
of 100 cases, it turned out that
Judge Patterson was just the kind
of guy who could overcome the
handicap of such reckless monkey
business.
He was soldier himself and a
common sense administrator. In
record time, he corralled the con-
fidence of everybody involved, army,
industry, public. Then something
happened. The President wisely de-
cided to appoint Judge Advocate
General Gullion-a natural-to con-
duct the selective service draft.
ong-Horse Harry boiled over.
Gullion would be appointed "over his
dead body" He wanted Colonel
Hershey, whom Gullion intended to
use as his deputy. There is nothing
the matter with Hershey. Together,
he and Gullion would have been the
most perfect team in America.
Alone, and next to Gu1lion, Hershey
would be the best selection. That
isn't the point. The point is the
testy, crochetty petulance of one,
stubborn, feeble old man and his
selection of secretary of war in this
crisis.
In the meantime, the selection of
a draft administrator is deferred,
pending agreements" when such
direction is needed tragically. Also,
all these matters are to be taken
away from Mr.. Stimson's own hand
picked Assistant Secretary Patter-
son-who was going to town.
DRAFT TROUBLE
This column recently criticized the
appointment of Elliott Roosevelt,
aged 80, as captain in the air corps
and his assignment to some desk
job in procurement. Elliott is with
in the selective draft age limits. Al
though gazetted as a Specialist"
there is no information that he has
any special training or experience
either as a soldier or as a purchas-
ing agent.
Now, according to a press dis
patch, Elliott says am a disgust
ing old man." who went through the
last war as soldier, but served
only at a desk. ! don't know what
that has to do with the merits Of
this case. In 1917 I had been a SOL
der in the regular army for 10
years. / served in the places was
ordered to serve. Among those
places, was in command Of COM
bat troops-an infantry brigade Of
the Eighth division. It and / were
aboard convoy destined for France
when the Armistice was signed.
Elliott is reported as protesting
that he didn't ask for any special
assignment and that he wouldn't