Evening star., 1942-11-28

leSt. InaJ pro- David Lawrence.
test is not only going unheeded but
it looks as if the very men who
were complained of by the people
for their maladministration are to
be kept in office or elevated to other
posts of responsibility.
The latest news, for instance, is
that the President may reorganize
his cabinet, but the names men,
toned are from the same coterie of
New Dealers who have been associ-
ated with his administration from
the beginning. On Capitol Hill,
they are saying that if the President
does not know the meaning of the
latest election, then Congress will
have to insist on telling him by con-
crete acts OF refusal to do his
bidding.
President Can Correct 1t,
This Is an unfortunate state of
affairs. 1t is regrettable. For the
Nation will pay for the stubborn
ness and bitterness being engen-
dered. The President has it in his
power to bring about a different
spirit and different mood. He
has more authority than any other
man in this Nations history ever
had. He has the confidence of many
people in the Republican party as
well as in his own party. On the
broad issues of foreign policy, he
has won bipartisan support before
and he can do so again.
But on his insistence that the
New Deal must go on and that the
New Dealers are the only persons
competent to manage the big eco
nomic jobs of the war in his cabinet,
he is unfortunately stirring up con-
troversy. He is paying little heed
to what the members of Congress
are saying.
Take, for instance, rationing.
Congress receives complaints from
constituents. Instead of everybody
working together on rationing prob
,enns, many groups are at cross pur-
poses. The very people who should be
urging the people to accept restric-
tive measures are pushed around.
Americas most successful men in
the management class find them
selves embarrassed because their
salaries are reduced below pre-war
levels while the income Of other
groups is substantially increased
above pre-war levels.
Punitive Viewpoint on Top.
The Administrator instead of
working out a fair formula, allows
radicals with a punitive point of
view to sit in high places and write
regulations that merely increase
the sum total of controversy and
resentment. The President listens
to the New Dealers and their social
istic viewpoint and does not hesitate
to allow them to use war powers to
put over their socialistic schemes of
income control.
Maybe there's A sadistic JOY some
where in offcialdom in carrying on
these class feuds during wartime,
but it is difficult for the disinterested
observer to see what constructive
purposes is served thereby. 1t is a
matter of deep disappointment to
read that the President has been
told by organized labor just whom
he should appoint to take charge
Of the manpower problem and who
should be denied such a job.
1t is even more disconcerting to
read that Mr.. Roosevelt is consider
Ing reshuffiing of his cabinet based
on his desire not to offend cabinet
members who have already out
stayed their welcome with the
American people but who still qualify
In the Presidents mind, apparently,
as the most capable and efficient
persons for these portfolios that the
Democratic party or any other party
can produce in the midst of the
gravest crisis in history.
Could Admit Error.
II any commanding general or
admiral chose his staff on the same
basis that Mr.. Roosevelt chooses or
retains his cabinet members, the
war would surely be lost. Yet with
enormous responsibilities of civil
ian nature related to the war, the
President doesn't seem to realize
ss yet that the people in the last
elections showed they were fed up
with the administrators he has
chosen.
It's bitter pill for any man to
swallow his pride and admit error.
But the men who can do it are the
big men in history. They are the
men who disassociate their pride
from the equation and make de-
cisions solely on the basis of what
will benefit their fellow men.
A new spirit is needed In WASH
ington-at the White House, on
Capitol Hill and inside the Govern
ment bureaus and departments. 1t
is a spirit of reconciliation, a spirit
that puts aside selfishness of all
kind and applies the lessons not of
theoretical but of practical, every
day Christianity. Something of this
spirit must soon enter Washington
life or the rebellion that is starting
on Capitol Hill will grow to a bitter
climax by the first of the year. when
the new Congress comes here.
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