Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-14
Fear Ickes
To Destroy
Oil Market
Southwest Is Unh a p p>
Over Oil Duce
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

1AL Ed YIN, ltA' JuiiS IL
Rarely has the great Southwest
seemed lovelier than now. Old
natives tell me that it has not
been more beautiful-to look at.
This is, or recently was. true
clear TO the Pacific coast. At
this time of the year all this
country usually begins 10 cook.
This year. even in the arid or
semi-desert states, the fields and
the woods are washed clean.
I They are lush green and liter
ally carpeted with wild-fowers.
The dust bowl itself is no ex-
ception, and, in the bordering
regions, curious thing has hap
pened. The hot winds that ripped
the surface off that unfortunate
area and whirled il into the sky
TO drop il further eastward took
more than dust. 1t swept along
seeds, pollen and even roots.
Now flowers, grasses. cacti and
shrubbery. never known before
in parts of Oklahoma and Texas.
are fourishing.
TIHE explanation of this whole
phenomenon is the rains
came" They came in a volume
and constancy that, the people
pray. have just passed their
crest.
In much of the wheat country,
they brought prospects of the
greatest crop of recent times.
But this is the beginning of
harvest and il was uShered in
by new deluge.
Travelling from Washington
10 Galveston was an adventure
with frequent doubts of arrival
IN tim grounded airplanes,
waShed-out railroad bridges. de-
tours in BUSES that in one case
overturned in 2 feet Of muddy
swirling water. leaving Z8 pas
Sengers TO scramble out through
an emergency door, fortunately
unhurt.
All rivers were bank-full or
overlooking for miles. flooding
/ people twho seem 10 take II as
a lark, out of their houses and
even out Of some towns.
Yes, they agree rather rue
fully, this country was never
more beautiful-to look at.
But we gotta eat"
As WAS shown in recent
"A column. this area is bear
ing most of the burdens of the
gigantic defense program and
except in a few cities. like Hous-
ton, getting few of its benefits.
As a result Of rains and high
water IN Oklahoma. the fate Dl
the wheat crop is still in doubt
Some OF IL is irretrievably
ruined in the fields. Other fields
are so beaten down that maybe
they can't be reaped. In Texas
and especially around Galveston
l am told that il is already toe
late for wheat. cotton, peanuts
and what have you.
With little luck crops Al
this stage have a way of beat.
Ing out tho prophets Of any dis.
aster through too much mois.
ture.
But In both Oklahoma anC
Texas the barometerS of hope
go up and down with another
prospect. which is petroleum
In both states. and especially in
Texas. they have filters about
Mr.. Ickes as newly-appointeC
car of the oil industry.
EVER since the days of the
~ first petroleum code. which
the writer negotiated. the prob
lem OF Texas with her enormous
fields has been peculiar amonl
the oil states.
The puzzle is too complex anc
technical 10 explain in a column
but briefly il is this: At present
in fairly unsatisfactory cooper
alton with other states. Texas
under a very flexible state pro
ration law. has been pinching II
her production on a scheme tina
in practice prejudices no partic
ular Texas field for the benefit
Of another and has satisfied
federal supervision.
Now with the advent of Oi
Duce (or d. Duck Ickes, tn,
fear is that, under the presen
state law, the state authorize.
have power 10 favor certain
fields and. under sufficient fed
eral pressure will do so.
So there was a great fight il
the state Legislature to put tn,
fields on a statutory basis o
equality. Its opponents com
plain that this will only insur,
about federal control, that ever
the state will have no voice, tina
Mr.. Ickes will treat the Who'll,
industry as a conquered PROVING,
under "Gauleiter" chosen b,
Standard Oil, and that som,
Texas fields will get a trimming
So, for all these and othel
reasons. the southwest is appre
densive and unhappy. 1t is ;
situation too obscure and III