The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-10

speeches ABOUT
il. but it's the subject Of plenty OF
conversation off the two legisla-
tive floors. It's 10 be overheard
from Republicans and anti-New
Deal Democrats. probably amount
ing, all told, to stable majority OF
congress membership.
Harrys adverse critics don't dis
like him personally, but he's so
close to the president that l think
perhaps they're a bit Jealous OF
him. As a tremendously active
New Dealer. he's held responsible
by the "antis" for a big share in
instgating various New Deal pol
icles that they've objected to
throughout the current administra-
ton. They found fault with his
Judgment as Works Progress ad-
ministrator and as secretary Of
commerce. Ever since F. DIS face
tious reference TO Tommy the
Cork" they've called Harry Harry
the Hop" That designation Is fair
" representative Of their estimate
Of him.
First they say that he isn't
suitable man to trust on a mis-
sion OF great responsibility, like
the one the president is sending
him on. to London. Having said
this, they Immediately take it
back, agreeing that the complete
responsibility Of it is what they
really object to; If a duly named
and confirmed ambassador bungles
he can be called to account for it,
but Harrvs responsible only TO the
White House, and not, effectively,
even to that.
What About Salary:
Indeed, a questions raised as to
his pay. The executive mansions
version Is that he's to be unsal-
aired; 1. to receive only his ex-
penses, plus q per diem allowance.
Yes, rejoin congressional critics,
but what's a per diem allowance
except a salary under a different
name. Their suggestion is that the
general accounting Office should
have voice relative to the legal
ity of the per diem item, and may
be relative to expenses, too, consid-
ering that the whole affair is ab-
solutely ungovernmental.
The trip likewise is compared
with the tour made by Colonel E.
NJ. House, in President Wilson'S be-
half, before our entrance into the
last World war, and it's signifl-
cantly recalled that that was pre-
liminary to our own participation
in conflict No. 1.
When this new Seventy-Seventh
congress convened 1t was freely
queried:
Will il get on more harmonious
ly with the president than the last
one did?
Congr ossional comment on the
Hopkins selection hints at a bad
send-off for harmony.
Congress appears to have been
decidedly impressed by the wide
spread editorial emphasis laid by
our newspapers upon the fact that
we have practically the only legis-
lative bod left on earth today that
functions independently of execu-
tive dictation and that it surely
had better stand pat for continued
recognition Of its rights.
Lawmakers Sensitive
Consequently our lawmakers, on
an average, emphatically are SEN
sitive to anything that they believe
flavors Of executive encroachment
upon their governmental branchs
authority. And good many Of
them pretty outspokenly feel that
the dispatch of an unofficial White
House agent to Britain strongly
suggests something Of the sort.
Anyway. to judge from their
talk. Harry Hopkins wasn't the
ideal individual to pick for the
mission; not from congress stand
point He's most likel.' the presi-
dents best friend, but too many
congressman deem him overly err
ratio to trust-honest and, in his
way, intelligent, but a freak. II
he's a spokesman they're afraid
he'll misexpress us. II he's an in
vestigator they're afraid the infor-
nation he brings back will be col
ored by his own peculiar preju-
dices. Furthermore, they don't
want any envoy sent abroad upon