The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-11
By PETER EDISON

history now but. as the profess
sors say, you can learn much
about today's affairs from an
Gent history. You might take q
lesson from the professors on
this case. II offers a perfect ex-
ample OF how things are done in
Washington these days. which is
a source Of never-ending wonder
to boys from the country who
never do seem able to catch on to
a sophisticated modus operandi.
Most amazing thing about this
incident is that the principals
were kept in complete ignorance
Of the whole project for several
days after 1t was out. To have
informed them Of this proposed
cabinet shake-up would have
been too simple. too much like
direct, straightforward dealing.
So a more intricate procedure
was followed to prepare them
for the blow.
News that there was a cabinet
shift impending was allowed to
get out in what has become
known in Washington as an ''in-
spired leak" The difference be-
tween a leak and an inspired
leak is that in a simple leak,
somebody outside the govern
ment gets hold of news that
somebody inside the government
wants to keep secret. Officials
can keep mum, as witness the
Molotov visit and Africa stories.
But in an inspired leak. some
body inside the government
wants some news to get 10 the
public without resort TO an Off
cial announcement, so the news
is planted.
An official calls in a cocoon
spirator and tells him, 'Lookit,
You can't attribute this TO me or
to anyone in the government. but
II you let the newspaper boys
put out a story saying that Har-
old Ickes is to be made secre-
tary of labor with control over
manpower. that Paul V. McNutt
is to be made secretary Of the
interior. and that Madame Per-
kins is to be made federal Sc
curity administrator, you won't
be far wrong"
1t might not be done that d.
rectly. but the story would be
planted by subtle hints.
Now any newspaperman worth
his salt will check back, as was
done in this case. Reporters
went 10 the offices of Ickes, Nc
Mutt and Perkins, and from
each received flat denials that
any such shift was in the wind.
Secretary Perkins has been re-
ported as resigning or being
forced to resign so many times
that her office doesn't bother to
make formal denials. But it was
news 10 both Ickes and McNutt.
Rumors of this triple play shift
Of cabinet officers broke on a
Wednesday. Receiving catego-
rical denials that there was any
thing TO these whisperings, the
press associations and most Of
the correspondents at first
wouldn't touch the story. Some
reporters wrote news Of the ru-
mors negatively. emphasizing
the denials.
A. F. OF L. President Bill
Green and c. I. o. President
Phil Murray. both in New York
on the day the leak broke. heard
the rumors and dashed back To
Washington 10 see what gave.
After their hurried conference
with the President. however, u
became apparent that these re-
ports were not all hooey. But
Ickes and McNutt still knew
nothing Of them.
Thursday was Thanksgiving
Day and Friday the President
Cancelled his press conference.
On Saturday Secretary Ickes was
given the weekend 10 think Il
over. On Monday McNutt still
hadn't heard anything officially.
This triple play, whether or not
II is pulled off as planned by the
coach. is 80 devilishly clever that
il could only be figured out by a
past master Of inside politics.
That it was thought up by some
Of the new dealers and planted
without approval or knowledge
Of the White House, then sold 10
the President. is inconceivsble.
The inspired leak was permit
ted TO try out public opinion and
particularly Washington opinion
II there was no bad reaction the
deal might go through. II there
was a hitch-well. the thing
could be kissed off as a lot Of
newspaper talk Either way. the
newspapers were played for suck
ers BY an administration which