Evening star., 1941-08-12

A'''''S' be very sound
meLemore. idea, thought,
to have the columnists OF the coun-
try move in and run the Govern
ment for week or 10 days.
There is no denying that such
a move would settle very perplex-
ing question.
Right now, no newspaper reader
can be sure in his own mind as to
who is right, the President or the
men who second-guess him on a
typewriter six days week.
1 feel free to say this because
I am one of the columnists. 1t is
not unusual for me to get up in
the morning and, after helping with
the breakfast dishes, slip a sheet Of
paper in my typewriter and tell of
the President. AS a matter of fact,
l DO this about three mornings q
week.
1t Is almost a ritual. I climb
out Of bed, shave, eat a light break
fast, and, with the zest of a man
who loves his work, start betting
the President around. There is no
getting away from 1t, this gives
man a great satisfaction.
After all, 1t just isn't every one
who has the privilege or the oppor-
tunity 10 whale the tar out Of the
man who holds the highest Office in
the world. 1t is great treat to the
ego to secondrguess a man who has
been voted the confidence of 13O.-
600, 900 persons, and who plays such
definite part in the shaping of the
world. If you can't reach the heights
yourself, it is mighty satisfying to
whip around with a typewriter rib
bon man who has.
Next to seeing her son grow I'D TO
be President, mother must get the
most satisfaction out Of pointing to
a son and saying: He didn't make
the White House, but, boy, he
gives the man who did a lot Of head
| aches"
I haven't talked to him about it
but I believe the President would
be in favor of having the columnists
come to Washington and take over
the Government in his absence. It
could not help but be a source of
satisfaction to him to know that,
while he drifted about the Atlantic
in the hope OF catching a tuna or
British Prime Minister, the White
House was overrun with men who
knew the answers TO everything.
He undoubtedly would sleep bet
ter after learning that the Red
Room swarmed with authorities on
foreign policy, that the Green Room
was packed to the chandeliers with
tax experts, that the Lincoln Room
was shared by a couple OF military
geniuses, and that the swimming
pool was crowded with swimmers
who had all the answers 10 the labor
problem.
The chances are that the eoturn-
nists wouldn't require more than a
day to straighten out this country.
That's more than enough time for
men who are accustomed to working
under deadline. The average COL
umniSt needs no more than two
hours at the most to think out and
put on paper his ideas on any sub
ject, no matter II 1t be the control
of the corn bore or the inadvisability
of allowing xyiophone players to use
three sticks.
There is no such thing a. admit.
ting a need for further information
on a subject. The columnist's Gods
calls for him to know all things at
all times. Confess 10 q weakness,
and you're out OF the snion, your
card taken up.
/ picked out my room In the Whita
House today. hope to share It with
one Of the military authorities who
knew-and definitely-that Russia
couldn't last two weeks against the
Nazis. 1t has cross ventilation and
q fire escape.
I plan to use the fire escape when
the President, annoyed by the things
I have said about him, tries TO pro-
nounce my name.
I Just won't stand there and listen
TO him say 80 this Is Harold Nc
Lemore."
That would hurt me. Hurt me
deep. I like to think Of myself as q
factor In American life.