Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-07
Hint Hopkins
To Take
Defense Job
Committee TO @ overn
British Aid Planned
By PAUL MALLON

lZe or mead new overall potfcy
making committee at the top of
the national defense setup,
The idea is Messrs. knudsen,
Hillman. Stettinius, ct al, are
busy stocking up production, and
a separate committee is needed
to judge how much and what
should so to Britain and gen.
orally to coordinate production
to t he dual requirements of
domestic defense and British aid.
A suggestion for such. new
regime is contained in the lend
lease bill. The President may
wait for that to be enacted.
So far the notion is merely
being talked over thoroughly
around the defense commission
as something the President has
in mind But this talk is limited
to persons who have in the past
discussed and sifted ideas for the
White House in preparation for
action.
QUESTION of Hopkins health
VI is undetermined. He is pick
ing up the knowledge and back
ground for such a job in Britain
now. Whether he feels strong
enough to take the front desk or
will act as offstage prompter
will probably be determined on
his return.
Powerful backing will shortly
emerge behind Werner Schree-
der, Illinois Republican national
committeeman, for the national
Craftsmanship. Certain congress
sional powers in the party are
convinced he will be "it."
Casual canvasSing among the
state leaders has developed wide
support of the Midwest demand
for Craftsmanship representation.
Schroeder may have the sane
ton of the Dewey, Taft and
Hoover factions, and perhaps
others.
The Illinois candidate is ma
tionally unknown, but not eX-
actly a newcomer to politics.
AS a Chicago lawyer, under so,
he has exhibited ability in or
ganizing businesses and has
played on the fringe of Repub-
lican state politics without be-
coming involved in factions.
He was. for instance. close to.
but not affiliated with. Gov. Len
Small. His effectiveness as
business organizer is what has
attracted the national political
leaders.
THE resign a ton of Lewis
Il Compton, assistant navy
secretary. was slid silently upon
Mr.. RooSevelt's desk a few days
back. Mr. Compton is mired in
circumstances similar to those
which caused the reluctant de-
parture of Assistant Secretary
of War Louis Johnson.
He was an Edison man who
ran the department a good deal
of the time when the former
navy secretary was away. New
Secretary Knox wants his own
man.
Presidential action on the
resignation NAV be held up a few
days while Compton is recover
ing from flu, but acceptance is
almost certain.
DOTH German and Danish
ID shipping officials are nego-
tiating with American shippers
on sales of informed liners. A
surprise announcement that
deal has been made is possible
within a couple of weeks.
You would not think the Ger
mans would wantsto sell for fear
their ships might fall into the
hands of the British. But If
Germany reasons that the United
States is going into the war any
way. she may h er prefer
dollar balances now to complete
loss of the ships later.
4 SMALL-BUSINESS aid divl-
~ sion of the national defense
commission is about ready to
swing into action, although an
nouncement has been withheld
for some reason.
Thirty-six offices are being
established in i federal re-
serve board districts. Each will
have an induStrialiSt. and
committee of five engineers
recommended by engineering
societieS) TO function as clear
ing house for small business de-
Tense problems. particularly the
sub-contracting phase.
They want to make of II a
vast system for the production
/ Of small parts by small firms.
A Milwaukee machine tool
manufacturer has sub-contrae-
tors working on parts as far
east as Marblehead. Mass.
Don Nelson worked up the
new system with federal reserve.
A REPORT urging Mr.. Roose-
"A welt TO upset political
patronage in legal and profess
sional branches of the govern
ment in favor of anA honest
merit system will be presented
to him in a few days.
f, y II may not cause much COM
4 motion out in the country. but