The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-23

SlESHuOuS loOld-
ZIONIST, is chairman Of the sena-
torial naval affairs committee
makes the situation all the worse
from the interventionists' stand
point.
OF course the vital upper house
committee at the present juncture
is the one on foreign affairs, Wal
ter F. George OF Georgia is chair
man of that. Senator George never
has been a New Dealer. but he's
gone along very we'll with the
White House and its congressional
supporters on the subject of for
eign policies. Senators Reynolds
and Walsh haven't. They favor all
colors of nationally defensive prep
aration against eventualities, but
no move in the direction Of Amer
lean participation in the war, as
it's being waged now, and they con-
tend that that is the direction in
which we're being edged by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the interven-
tionists on Capitol Hill.
Well, Senator George is admins
nationally okay, as to foreign az
fairs.
So is Chairman Sol Bloom of the
representatives foreign affairs
committee. So are Chairmen An
drew ]. May and Carl Vlnson Of the
same legislative branch's military
and naval affairs committees, re-
spectively.
Walsh Not New
And. indeed, nobody suggested
that Dave Walsh ought to be fired
out Of his senatorial naval commit
tee Craftsmanship. He already was
chairman when today's crisis de-
veloped itself. and, while the inter-
ventionists didn't like his isola-
tionism, they didn't go so far as to
say that can should be tied onto
him.
Senator Reynolds, though. is In a
different classification.
Until few weeks ago his COM
mittee's chairman was a corking
good administrations - Morris
Sheppard Of Texas, father OF the
Eighteenth amendment. don't be-
neve he was an unqualified inter-
ventionist, either, but he was in
favor Of every administration pol
icy-after which, let nature take
its course.
Then he died and new chair
man was required.
Congressional committee men,
bers graduate into chairmanships
in order Of seniority. 1t isn't an I'M
breakable rule, but it's a precedent
that hasn't been disregarded but
once or twice in American history.
And Senator Reynolds was in line
for that particular job.
All chairmen belong to the ma
jority party - Republicans when
they're predominant, Democrats
when they're in power. as they are
now.
Accordingly, 1t was up to the
Democratic steering committee to
name the new military committee
head. Usually it's a mere formality.
The steering committee having
made its choice, 1t has to be con-
frmed by the entire senate, but
that's almost invariably perfume
tory also.
But in this instance 1t made the
interventionists and even the ra-
Their Reluctantly interventionistic
administrationists hot under the
collar to think Of actually PUT
TING an isolationistic and foreign
ly Observation-Disclosures chair
man at the head Of so key a COM
mittee as that especial one. A
chairman isn't decisive, but he's in
fuential. Besides an issue of pres
tige was involved. Furthermore,
Bob Reynolds Is a celebrated dab
at foreign affairs. He's been a
world traveller; has written books
about alien lands. He speaks con-
corning 'em With authority.
So the interventionists brought
pressure on the Democratic steer
ing committee membership to turn
him down in favor Of Senator FL
bert D. Thomas Of Utah, rip-snort-
ingly decentralization, whatever
its policies may lead US into-or
keep US out Of.
Threat Works
IF you DO" said Bob, I'm ap-
peal TO the whole senate"
That scared the steering commit
tee aplenty. Its members didn't be-
lieve the whole senate would uphold
EN-. It doesn't follow that all the
senators are isolatlonistic, but
some Of EN- are. And, in addition
TO those. there are a lot who. re-