Evening star., 1942-02-01

and Capt. Patterson covered MS pdtrois
retreat, during which he dropped into .
depression and feigned death In order
to escape capture. Here he lay until he
was able to escape to his lines under
cover Of darkness"
In addition, he was twice cited in gen.
sral orders for gallant and meritorious
conduct. In both cases 1t was declared
that he showed utter disregard to per-
sonal danger" On the night of August
II, 1918, the account ran, his company
suddenly came under heavy shell fire.
He calmly walked up and down In front,
indicating to individual men where each
could best find shelter. During the
Argonne offensive, the other citation
read, Capt. Patterson lied his men with
marked efficiency, GOODNESS and courage,
under an intense concentration Of artil-
lery and machine-gun fre."
Married Baltimore Girl.
He was honorably discharged May n,
1919, with the rank of major in the
Onicers' Reserve Corps. On January 3,
1920, he married Margaret T. Winchester
Of Baltimore. They have four children
Robert p, jr., Is; Aileen w., IL; Susan
Hand, 8. and Virginia Devereux, 4. He
practiced law In New York City until
President Hoover in 1890 appointed him
Judge Of the Southern New York district
Of the United States District Court.
President Roosevelt promoted him to the
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in 1899.
Patterson himself is a Republican.
After the German victories in the
spring of 1910, Mr.. Patterson and other
Reserve officers, mostly veterans Of the
First World War, foresaw that the United
States would eventually be forced into
the conflict and undertook "refresher"
courses at Plattsburg. Kitchen police
duty was not punishment, but chore
rotated among the students. Mr.. Pat
terson was peeling potatoes on July 81
when a telegram from President Roose-
velt arrived, announcing his appointment
as Assistant Secretary Of War When
the office of Undersecretary of War was
created by Congress he was chosen to
hold the position and was confirmed
December 10, 1910.
Owns Hudson River Farm.
In Washington, the family occupies
modest Georgetown cottage, painted yel-
low. but its principal home is q 7o-acre
farm near Garrison, N. Y, on the Hud-
son River across from West Point. When
the Judge" bought the tract six years
ago, the fields had run to brush. the soil
was exhausted and the house and out
buildings were sadly in need of repair.
He donned overalls and rooted the barn
with his own hands. He built sheds,
mended harness and machinery. plowed,
pitched hay, MIXED and ran q tractor.
He had the soil analyzed and fed it
with the proper fertilizers.
Today there are 10 acres In field corn,
Is In oats and 20 in clover and timothy.
With most of the brush cleared away, the
remaining IS acres serve as pasture for
five cows and three pigs. Mr.. Patterson's
goal is to make the farm pay its own
way. He has not yet succeeded, except
that he earns a profit on eggs from his
flock of 100 chickens. A second purpose
may be expressed in his own words:
1.-The average farmer would get along
much better if he raised the necessaries
of life instead Of crops for q cash mar
ket. We've gotten away from the fund
amental ideas Of farming, which Is to
produce a living for the farmer and his
family. That's what I'm trying to do
with my place"
Before the United States entered the
war, Mr. Patterson spent as many week
ends as possible on his farm, travelling
back and forth by plane. In more lei
surely days, he played hockey and soft
ball, nshed and hunted.
No Button -Pusher.
In his ONCE he is no button -pusher.
If he wants to consult subordinate he
is as likely as not to 60 and see the latter
in his own quarters. He has an uncanny
memory for faces and names. There
was the case Of an Italian who fought
In Mr.. Patterson's company. He had
enlisted under one name, been dis
charged under another and legally ac-
uuired q third. Because Of this con-
fusion he could not collect Z bonus. III
the captain doesn't recognize me I'm
stuck" he said Mr.. Patterson instantly
recalled him, with all the details Of the
case, and saw that he got the money.
A serene personal dignity prevents Mr..
Patterson from being q hail-fellow-well-
met but among all war bigwigs inter-
viewed by the writer he Is one Of the
most friendly and by far the most candid.
In fact, he Is so outspoken that Q SELF
appointed guardian always hovers anx-
iously about in the person Of 1t. Col.
A. Robert Ginsburg his right-hand man
and chief Of Army procurement press
relations. Once outside the ONCE Col.
Ginsburg falls on the reporter with .
blue pencil and strips his notebook Of
It's best items.
Has Confidence Of Labor.
As . reward for his transparent good
faith, Mr.. Patterson Is said to be the
only war official to enjoy equal conf
dence of both the c. I. o. and A. r. l..
While the c. I. o. and motor car In
dustry, in recent page advertisements,
were attacking each other over the
Reuther plan, the Undersecretary acted.
He quietly engaged the plans author.
Walter P. Reuther, to make . tour Of
automobile factories with view to re-
porting measures for converting the In
dustry to an-out war production.
Mr.. Patterson's judicial temperament
was carried over into his present post
and he insists on hearing both sides In
any controversy involving men and
r,,rae I1is o,,o 1jtv ae q ms oiStrofn