Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-06
Henderson
Fitted for
Price Job
If Experience G cunts
He's The Man
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

fiA,o PiNNS ~ oDOuN LSoii nth
derson. The subject should
be of general interest, because,
as price, administrator. in an
effort by direct control to pre-
vent some of the more horrible
aspects of imitation. he has one
of the heaviest responsibilities
to protect every home in this
nation that ever rested on Amer
lean shoulders.
As a principal member Of
SPAB, or the l941 war indus
tries board he has a prime place
in gearing up military produc-
ton to a point OF national secu-
rlty without running our basic
business structure.
The piece is written before
reading the promised disclosures
of Chairman Dies of the House
committee investigating "isms, "
which Mr.. Dies has said will
expose Mr. Henderson as unfit"
for his Job because of his past
and present associations and
associates.
At FIRST I thought I ought
"A TO wait TO hear this blast.
and then II occurred 10 me that
I have had my own experiences
with Leon extending over many
years. He isn't predictable>
don't know all that he has donef
! don't agree with him on many
things.
He served in my general staff
organization of army purchase
and storage in 1918. | brought
him into NRA in an important
position and served with him
closely both there and in an
important civilian assignment
later.
He may be opinionated. unduly
cocky and extremely New Deal
iSh. but if there is anything the
matter with his loyalty, patriot
ism and, | will add. essential
SoundneSS. ought 10 know il
without waiting for MIR. Dies
blast
I CANT and don't know all hi.
l. associates and associations
but ! do know that among tho
foremost Of them. especially mer
like Johnny Hamm. are some o,
the ableSt and best people | haC
in NRA
| bold no particular brief foi
r. Henderson nor any partic.
ular brief against him. In fac'
! raZZed him so much when ht
became pontifical on Senator
O Mahoneys monopoly commit
tee that he called up one of my
editors and threatened 10 bea'
me up or worse.
Just the same. for his par
ticular new job of watching ovel
prices. don't know any mar
better fitted by study and ex
perience with the whole parad,
of modern industry and eco
homie trends lie saw ii al
pass in review IN the war. II
MIRA and again with Senator
O'Mahoncy.
When that Job was over
among many Of these industrial
car jobs offers with a whack
ing salary, that came 10 me anC
were declined. | wanted 10 sug
gest him for one. His answer
was.
mo sir. In this uncha rtet
sea Of governmental statistica
services, there must he som.
way to get conspectus Of tn,
whole picture. I'm going 10 tr,
10 get II. even II star,e In thu
process. II il our greatest need.
That Is what he has WORKED
at for at least eight years.
FINALLY. | cant agree will
L the angle Of attacking. on ;
Side-isSue, a man who has JUS
been appointed 10 a position o.
such great responsibility 49, a
least until he has had a chance
to do his stuff
Leon. like Harry Hopkins, ha'
been too cocky with Congress
Wholly unnecessarily. he trieC
TO horSe-wrangle Senator Ton
Connally of Texas and that ISM
a healthful pastime. There ism
a more cooperative legislator
IL you 90 TO him with youl
troubles. There is no mustang
harder 10 ride if you rowell hin
in the short ribs and slap hin
with your hat
Mr.. Henderson has some
faults and, as | believe, some
very wrong theories about price
control This column reserves
the right TO discuss them, but
at this stage | must confess
that ] don't know many IF any
better choices for this Job.
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