Evening star., 1941-02-05
Hiram Johnson Joins
Wheeler in Feud
With Roosevelt
Californian Coils Attack
On Montonon Outrage
After New Exchunqe
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN C. HENRY.
Hopes for national unity in sup
port Of Americas foreign policy and
defense program were under cloud
today as deepening personal bitter
ness appeared between President
Roosevelt and critics on Capitol Hill,
most particularly Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana.
Leader of the Senate opposition
to the pending lease-lend legislation,
the Montanan has been exchanging
bitter verbal attacks with the Chief
Executive for several weeks. the
latest in the series coming last night.
Questioned at a press conference
late yesterday about the Senator S
assertion that at least four -fifths
of the Nations new fighting air
planes have been shipped to England
in recent months, the President re-
piled that all sorts Of things can be
worked out on figure basis, adding
brusquely that such criticism must
be very satisfactory to the Chancel-
lor Of the German Reich.
Wheeler Hits Back.
Although Mr.. Roosevelt did not
use Senator Wheeler's name, the
Montanan made a quick comeback
later in the evening.
II have been highly honored
great many times" he said with
obvious sarcasm, but never higher
than having the President mention
me at his press conference every
time they meet.
I'm perfectly willing to compare
my patriotism with that of his
closest advisers. I have no interest
financially, or otherwise, in Ger
many or England My ancestors for
generations back were born and
raised in the United States.
I'm a democracy the people are
supposed to be given the facts, but
thsy haven't been furnished the
facts with reference to the condi-
ton of our defenses at the present
time"
Presidents Schedule Full.
At his press conference last week
the President quoted a former Am
bassador to Germany, the late
William E, Dodd. as having repre-
Sented Senator Wheeler as saying
several years ago that Nazi domina-
tion of Europe was inevitable and
that American aggression against
the neighboring republics of this
continent would be in the interests
Of our defense.
During a full days schedule of
engagements today. the President
conferred on progress of the de-
fense program with Secretary of
War Stimson and later on the part
which welfare and health activities
are playing in meeting with Fed
eral Security Administrator McNutt
Budget Director Harold D. Smith
and Red Cross Chairman Norman
Davis were others to see the Presi-
dent during the day.
Attorney General Jackson was q
, luncheon guest at the White House
Press Relations Secretary Stephen
T. Early said the Attorney General
had an accumulation of matters to
take up with the President, per-
haps including some recommended
tions for judgeship vacancies. Mr.
Early said yesterday that nomina-
ton of a successor to Judge Peyton
Gordon in the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia
would wait on recommendations
from Mr.. Jackson.
In rapping back at the President
last night, Senator Wheeler received
assistance from Senator Johnson,
Republican, of California, and an
other foe of the administration S
foreign policy
Describing Mr. Roosevelt's press
conference remark as IAN outrage
the Californian added:
The President can attack and
attack a man and he can seldom
fight back. 1t is very rare that a
man can answer back as Senator
Wheeler has DONE
Wheeler's Figures.
In his charge that this Govern
ment is stripping American forces
of their air strength for the purpose
of aiding Britain, Senator Wheeler
said that he had absolutely reliable
information" that as of January l
the Army had only 639 planes, none
of which he classified as fit for COM
bat service because of lack of suffi-
cient armor, fire power or self-Seal-
ing gasoline tanks. He said that
1908 out of 1884 planes produced
last year had been sent to England.
In addition to continuing his feud
with Senator Wheeler the President
yesterday disclosed to his press con-
ference that consideration is being
given to setting up development
authorities for the Columbia and
Arkansas River sheds. projects that
would be comparable to the T. v. A
Both cover large and important
areas, he explained, and present
opportunity for a wide variety of
undertaking in flood control, irriga-
ton, forestry development, power
production and similar improve
ments Of value to the Nation.