Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-09
Roosevelt
A+Crossroad
On Policies
Prices, Draft Terms Show
2 Contributions
BY PAUL MALLON

ldiIil DlOt has OiSi uPttd al
the New Deal office cooling sys-
TENS with humidity they have
turned on against price controls,
No less an administration per-
sonage than Senator Jim Byrnes
Impending Justice James
Byrnes), has tried to persuade
Mr.. Roosevelts price manipula-
tor, Leon Henderson, to let it all
go until Fall. Mr.. Henderson
declined.
The largest root of political
trouble which is arising over
prices is in the loyal southern
branch of the farm bloc. The
southern statesmen remember
the prices for cotton in the last
World War. Senator Cotton
Ed" Smith has been recalling it
reached as cents a pound and
that a minimum price of az
cents was then fixed. 1t is under
Is cents now.
Their doubts are being
strengthened by in-pourings of
advice from constituents. The
Senate agriculture committee
has received 1000 kilograms of
protest. Senator Bankhead Of
Alabama alone has received a
like amount.
\ SIMILAR opposition is ST.
"A simultaneously arising around
General MarshalPs request for
authority to send draftees
abroad and extend their term of
service.
Letters from families of the
boys now serving are beginning
to come to Congressman laying
a basis for strong resistance on
these points also.
These developments are push
ing Mr.. Roosevelt right up to
the decisive crossroads. His
price adviser fatty says prices
cannot be restrained unless he
has power Immediately, and the
politicos fear it will be I'M
popular.
His chief of staff says the
country, to have an adequately
trained army. must extend the
terms of some draftees and
every one knows that would be
unpopular Cleaving out any con-
sideration of sending troops
aboard, which will no doubt be
considered separately in Con-
gress, and probably defeated).
TIP TO now Mr.. Roosevelt's
~ moves have suggested an
inclination to maintain two
theories of government at the
same time:
(D A Farmer-Labor theory
advocating increase farm
prices. and allowing wage in
creases. some strikes, short
hours, and
(2) A defense government
which requires price controls
ana wage limits, utmost hours.
Apparently these two ideas
cannot be maintained side by
side much longer.
THE Iceland occupation an
l. nouncement was put to-
gether in q hurry. No mimeo-
graphed copies of MIR. Roose-
velt's message were available
even after the reading of it
started in the House. But the
political groundwork for it was
cautiously laid in advance.
Three days ahead, Senator
Wheeler, the government oppo-
sition leader, was able to an
-nounce- he had heard would
be done. His reaction then gave
the White House a fairly good
idea that no strong objection
would be encountered. wheel
er's words were:
GIT MIGHT be all right TO
Il take over Iceland for ma
tional defense, but who knows
what Colonel Knox or Mr.. Slim
son may order the army or navy
to do after they get there"
The least that Secretaries
Knox and Stimson will do was
made clear in Mr.. Roosevelt's
message. They will keep the
seas clear and thus assure the
safety of conveys between here
and Iceland "as well as on the
seas between the United States
and all other strategic points"
While this is done under the
necessity of maintaining COM
municationS for ourselves, the
British convoy system will ma
terially benefit.
Distributed by King Features synd., Inc