Evening star., 1941-10-01


formation quarterback and hand
ing him questions to ask the Holly
wood witnesses, has writer's cranp
and needed a rest.
Others are of the opinion that
their work on the investigation has
so stimulated the interest of the
committee members in the new
tangled" amusement device, the
movies, that they want to see some
of the pictures.
For example, there is Senator
Clark of Idaho, chairman of the
subcommittee. He hasn't seen a
movie since Valentino was causing
heartbeats to quicken from Maine
to Florida. And some one told me
that Senator Tobey went to the
movies only when Theda Bara,
Wallace Reid and Pearl White wers
featured.
Another school-and this is the
one I subscribe to-believes that
the committee adjourned to give
Senators Clark and Tobey a chance
to figure out what was to be done
about their colleagues on the COM
mittee, Senators Mcfarland of Ari-
zona and Brooks of Illinois.
These two gentlemen have been
quite a problem to the other two
Senators. particularly Mcfarland
of out there where the buffalo and
deer frolic all day and you couldn't
get fellow to say an unkind worcl
even if you set fire to his house.
As I get it from well-informed
Washington Snoops-and I have to
depend on the snoops, because
heaven knows I know so little about
Washington that still hold Tommy
Corcoran in reverence-Senator Nc
Farland has double-crossed the men
who put him on the movie subcom-
mittee. He was supposed to be
quieter than mouse, as subdued
as a husband coming home at 5
in the morning, and generally an
all-around stooge who would sit
quietly at the end of the table and
say nothing.
Well, he has been everything but
that. A junior Senator, yes. A man
still feeling his way about, uh-huh.
But a fellow to be pushed around
and told when to nod Yes and when
TO nod No, never.
He has been thorn in the side
| of the isola zionist Clark and the
America First Tobey. He has chal-
lenged them at every opportunity.
He has stolen the headlines, drawn
the applause from the spectators and
generally been a nuisance to the men
who thought he was a Far Western
nonentity.
Senator Mcfarland is the fellow
who will come out of this investiga-
ton with what bouquets are handed
around. He has stamped himself as
a Senator to be reckoned with. He
is no showoff. No deliberate stealer
Of the spotlight. In fact, he is slow
in speech, sort of messy in dress and
has shy air about him. But when
he asks question it makes sense
and bears on the point.
AS for Senator Brooks, the only
difference between him and the
Sphinx is that the Sphinx is in
Egypt and doesn't have curly hair.
He hasn't said anything. Well, he
has said something, but without
counting the words in the record,
I'll bet he hasn't asked II questions
or spoken 1000 words. He Just sits.
The story Is that he Is coming Up
for reelection in November or what
ever month Senators run for the Job,
and that he is not going to 60 on
record as liking or disliking any
thing. I heard a reporter make a
bet the other day that Senator
Brooks would think twice before
coming right out and fatty stating
that fresh eggs were better than
old ones.
There is always the chance that
the old eggs will get voting rights
in Illinois," the reporter said, "and
the Senator doesn't want any fac
ton to have a thing against him."
That's human. We all understand
that. Senator Brooks is settled here
in Washington, has moved all his
furniture from Illinois and has
learned the thousand and one things
that a newcomer to city must learn.
He doesn't want to go back after
all of that trouble. Neither would
I. Neither would you.
But when the subcommittee re-
sumes its sittings next week I do
wish Senator Brooks would suddenly
jump up in the air and come out for
something or other. To help him
along, I suggest a topic on which
he could take stand without en-
dangering a single vote in his
home State.
Just let him stand up and say
there are more people in Washington
making money off national defense
than there are in Peru.
National defense gets an awful
kicking around down here. The
streets are packed with guys who
have this as their motto:
"A guy who can't get rich of the
Government right now doesn't de-
serve to be rich"
It's frightening, but it's true.