Evening star., 1941-01-13
Roosevelt, Gratified
AtWi||kie Stand, Has
Final Day Of Rest
6. 0. P. Candidates Trip
To Britain Seen Bringing
More Minority Regularity
BY JOHN G. HENRY,
Star Sta" correspondent.

BY JOHN c. HENRY,
Star Staf' Correspondent.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Jan. 13.-
With prospects for congressional ap-
proval of the pending lend
legislation enhanced by public in
dorsement of the measure yester-
day by the nominal head of the
Republican party, President Roose-
velt was spending a final day of
rest here today before returning to
Washington for what is certain to
be a history-making winter.
Today Mr. Roosevelt visited the
new library and the Hyde Park post
Office, where he spoke at corner
stone laying ceremonies on the day
after his third term election.
He plans to be back in Washing
ton early tomorrow.
One week from today he will be
formally inducted for a third time
into the presidency, charged with
leadership of the Nation under cir
cumstances which have no parallel
in American annals and at a time
when the fate of the world may very
likely depend on policies and actions
Of this Government.
Keystone of the policy, it now
seems, will be the formula for
further assistance to the fighting
democracies" as finally enacted on
the basis of the broadly worded
lease-lend legislation.
Endorsement Was Good News.
Already party lines have been dis
regarded in reaction to the meas
ure and. although administration
leadership on Capitol Hill has been
confident of its ability to put the
bill through without substantial re-
vision, yesterdays Endorsement by
Wendell L. Willkie was good news
to majority supporters of the pro-
posal
Officially, there was no comment
from Mr.. Roosevelt here, but a White
House spokesman remarked that of
course approval of the administra-
tion plan, particularly from opposite
political quarters is gratifying and
considered of real value in efforts
to achieve national unity during
time of great emergency.
Although Mr.. WILKES party
strength does not lie principally with
Republican members of Congress,
his example may still influence sew
eral, perhaps enough to counter the
critical reaction of such G. o. P.
leaders as former President Hoover.
Alf Landon and Thomas E. Dewey.
In addition, Mr.. Wilkes contem-
plated trip to England for a first
hand view of wartime conditions and
needs there may similarly bring
greater minority regularity" on ad-
ministration policies for assisting
Britain. The White House and
State Department consider them
selves well and truly informed in this
regard and probably feel that Mr.
Mr.. Wilkes own examination will
further convince him that admins
tration attitude toward the urgency
Of the situation is fully justified.
Housing Division.
Meanwhile, the President was
hopeful that the creation of the new
division for defense housing CO.
ordination will smooth out the nu-
merous rough spots in that part of
the Nations mobilization. and that
his public Endorsement of prompt
termination of steel plant strike
will encourage similar union conduct
In other cases.
The housing development was an
nounced yesterday with release of an
executive order and regulations
setting up the new division within
the Office of emergency management,
itself authorized by the Reorganiza-
ton Act.
To head the new division, the
President designated Charles
Palmer, Atlanta real estate man who
has been working on the housing
problem within the National Defense
Commission organization. Because
of the subordinate position of the
housing unit in the commission
setup, it was explained, there have
been delays and inadequate author
ity in the planning and expediting of
new housing programs. The new
administrative arrangement is eX-
pected to end this condition and to
serve, in effect. as clearing house
and control point for integrating
the activities of public and private
housing agencies.
Labor Restraint Hoped For.
With regard to the Presidents
public expression on the labor issue,
the significant implications are
readily discernible. A major strike
in one of the important defense in
dustries, or a continuing series of
brief stoppages, would be disastrous
to efforts to bring the Nation to a
production peak in the near future.
BY its words and actions the ad-
ministration has made it clear that
1t does not desire to WELD big
stick" on labor or to deprive it
legally Of its right to strike-but it
has been made equally clear that it
hopes for extreme restraint on the
part of labor.
Yesterday it was disclosed that the
President had written approvingly
to regional director of the Steel
Workers Organizing Committee,
Michael Harris, in Philadelphia,
commencing the C. l. o. union Off
cial and the workers for their prompt
termination of a recent walkout at
q plant of the American Car e.
Foundry Co.. holder of millions of