Evening star., 1942-02-18
Repercussions in War
Effort Seen in Narrow
Political Policy
Capable Men, Foes of
President in Politics,
Denied responsibilities
BY JAY G.. HAYDEN.


of the same plainly in the offlng
point the need for President Roose-
welt to broaden the political base
of hie administration if he Is tc
attain united congressional anc
popular support in the war effort.
AS things stand, there are alto
gether too many outstanding Amer
leans who have been left with nc
job to do, except to pick flaws. The
President has done enough to indi-
cate that he has this situation in
mind, but so far he has seemed un-
willing to place any recognized po-
litical opponent in position of real
policy-making responsibility.
For example, the White House a
few days ago mentioned Wendell
L. Willkie, Charles Evans Hughes
Alfred E. Smith and James A. Far
ley as possible appointees on
panel of umpires, to be called on
in the administrations discretion
to hear labor disputes. Two Deme-
Gratis. who previously quit the ad-
ministration because of disagree
ment with its fiscal policies, have
been called to minor jobs-Dean
Acheson as Assistant Secretary of
State and Lewis Douglas, soon to
go to London as an assistant lease
lend co-ordinator
Willkie Annoyed.
Mr.. Willkie left no doubt that he
was annoyed at the proposal to
put him on political ice, as one of
four in a fourth-rate official berth,
and it is probable that Messrs.
Hughes, Smith and Farley felt the
same way about it.
How different it would have been
If Messrs. Willkie, Hughes, Smith
and Farley had been proposed as
the public representation on the
War Labor Board itself-a position
in which they would have been en-
powered to not only formulate but
enforce national labor policy.
Or, suppose either Mr.. Farley or
Mr.. Willkie, instead of James M.
Lands, had been named to head
the o. C. D., in succession to Mayor
La Guardia. Mr.. Lands, in the eyes
of Congress, is just another New
Dealer. The one certain thing
about him is that he is White
House Eyes man" Mr.. La Guardia
as Mayor, had proved an excellent
administrator. There is little in Mr..
lands record to indicate that he
has even that qualification.
Ideal Post for Farley.
Mr.. Farley, in contrast would
seem to be made to order for the
0. c. D. dictatorship. Nobody bet
ter than Mr.. Roosevelt knows Mr..
Farley's unique flare for popular
organization or his genius for get
ting along with people and persuad-
ing them to work enthusiastically
and altogether.
Mr.. WILKES executive ability is
less well established. but he had
displayed a high degree of ir1spira-
tional leadership and his selection
would have been recognized. as a
definite concession to the adminis-
tration's political opposition.
There may be Justification for the
Presidents refusal to bring into the
Government top-fight Republican
critics of his international policies,
such as Herbert Hoover, Alf M. Lam
don and Senators Vandenberg and
Taft. 1t may be said that Mr..
Hoover, Mr. Al Smith and Former
Chief Justice Hughes are too old.
But there are others to whom
neither of these objections apply.
On the Republican side, there are
Thomas E. Dewey and Cows. Harold
E. Stassen of Minnesota and Everett
Saltonstall of Massachusetts,, all
young and proved bangup admins
traitors. Among anti-New Deal
Democrats there are John w. HaneS,
Joseph P. Kennedy and Gov. Her.
bert H. Lehman, the quality of whose
executive ability the President has
had full opportunity to test. Mr..
Kennedy won universal applause
for his initial organizations of both
the Securities and Exchange Com
and the Maritime Com
mission. Mr.. Hanes, as Undersecre-
tary of the Treasury, was the only
administration spokesman of tax
policies of the last nine years, who
won the complete confidence of
Congress.
Weaknesses in Set-Up.
Certainly the present administra-
ton set-up is not perfect Secre-
tary of State Hull is II and in frail
health. Secretary of War Stimson
is IA and does much of his work at
home. Secretary of Labor Frances
Perkins is so unpopular with en-
ployers and union representatives
alike that all important war labor
activities have been taken away
from her department Attorney
General Biddle generally is rated
weak sister. Since his abortive at
tempt to curtail gasoline consump-
ton n the East Coast, Interior Sec
retary Ickes seemingly has been in
the administration dog-house. Lease
Lend Administrator Hopkins is
physically able to work only a few
hours day.
OF this group Secretary Hull holds
a high measure of popular conf
dence. His resignation would occa-
sion widespread regret. Retirement
of any or all of the others would
occasion scarcely a ripple of dissent.
System Astounded British.
Far more important than the per-
sonalities involved, however, is the
need for broadening popular conf
dence in the Government by giving
representation to all major elements
of the population. For example,
politically minded Britishers, accom-
panying Prime Minister Churchill
to Washington, were astounded to
hear that the principal minority
members of the Senate and House
very rarely are consulted before i'm
portant war decisions are made.
Failure of Mr.. Churchill to do this,
they said, would create q terrific
British rumpus.
The weeks and months ahead will
be fraught with decisions more
heartrending than any American
officials ever have faced-the sort
of deSperate choices the British have