Evening star., 1942-02-23
Daniels Takes
Mrs. RooseyeIf's 5
Post in 0.c.D.
Southern Editor
Heads Division
In Reorganization


Jonathan Daniels, Southern news
paper editor, replaces Mrs. Roose-
welt as the head of the Volunteer
Participation Division, which has
been reorganized into the Civilian
Mobilization Branch Of the Once Of
Civilian Defense. att
h Mrs. Roosevelt disclosed this latest
step in the reorganization OF o. c. D.
at her press conference today, dur
ing which she released q three-page
memorandum principally to explain
that the original executive order
setting UP the o. c. d. did include
provisions for taking care of COM
munity problems. 1t was this phase
of o. C. D. work which brought
congressional charges of a social
experiment"
At the same time, she indicated
that a new executive order would
be issued, which she said was Gus
tomary when new director took
over an agency, but she limited that
some changes would be made in the
details OF the ORDER.
Daniels Aides Named.
Mr.. Daniels aides will be Miss
Mary Dublin, who will get infor-
nation on communities, and Hugh
Jackson, who will implement the
program, with Mr.. Daniels doing
the program making.
Mrs. Roosevelt declared she had
completely severed all ties with the
o. C. D. and would take no speak
ing engagements for it or act in a
consulting capacity, contrary to what
Dean James M. Lands, o. c. D.
director, indicated when he accepted
her resignation Friday.
She said the only valid criticism
of her taking the Office, which made
her the target for congressional
criticism, was that the wife of q
President cannot take q job in the
Government and be accepted as an
individual because 1t Is so hard for
people to disassociate her from the
possible influence of her husband.
This, however, will not deter her
AAOiIL 44OA01lS PubAS oAnSC AL tAAC 2o-
ture, she made clear.
Explains Statement.
In releasing the statement on the
civilian defense organization, she ex-
planned that 1t was only for back
ground, that as far as she was con-
cerned, she was through with the
o. c. D., but she had written this
statement and she thought the re-
porters would like to have it.
The ease with which she answered
questions today was IN sharp con-
trast with her apparent nervousness
and refusal to answer much that was
asked her at her last press con-
ference, at which she suggested that
various members of Congress give
her the opportunity to answer their
criticisms. She said today she had
had no such invitation.
In announcing the organization Of
the Civilian Mobilization Branch to
succeed the Volunteer Participation
Division, she said in her statement
that she felt confident it would be
come a source of ever-increasing
strength in our war effort until VIC
tory has been won and = just peace
secured"
Mrs. Roosevelt last night said she
had resigned from the ONCE of
Civilian Defense to spare . program
from criticism arising from a re-
newal Of "the age-old fight for the
privileged few against the good Of
the many"
II am resigning," she said in her
weekly broadcast, because do not
want to bring a good program, and
on good and valued public servants,
the attacks and criticisms which
are bound to be made on some of
us In this fight, but If there has to
be a fight. am glad I am enlisted
as a common soldier with the
many"
Perhaps" she added, 1--WE must
all stand up now and be counted in
this fight. The virtuous Westbrook
Peglers on the one side, the boom
dogglers, so-called, on the other,
but I think If the people of this
country can be reached with the
truth, their Judgment will be in
favor of the many as against the
privileged few"
Assails Slurs on Dancer.
Reiterating her defense of Dancer
Mayris Chaney. who resigned her
o. G. D. position in the wake Of
congressional criticism, Mrs. Roose-
welt declared that "the gentlemen
who cast slurs upon young woman
because of her profession, without
any knowledge except she happens
to be friend of mine, did q most
unchivalrous and ungentlemanly
thing"
Mrs. Roosevelt said she suggested
Miss CLANCY for her $4,000 o. c. D.
job because I thought she was
qualified to do the work on q pro-
gram which she herself had worked
out and thought might be Of value.
The fact that she is friend Of
mine had no bearing on the de-
ciSion."
Apparently referring to charges
of Communism raised against Movie
Actor Melvyn Douglas, when his
o. C. D. appointment became known,
Mrs. Roosevelt said because people
have fought and stood for liberal
causes, they need not be branded as
Communists in this country, which
gives us freedom to be Republicans
or Democrats, reactionaries or
liberals"
She said 1T is apparently all right
for businessmen to come to Wash
ington to give their services on an
expense basis, but not for an actor.
We should be grateful to these busi-
nessmen, and we should be equally
grateful to men like Mr.. Melvyn
Douglas"
Physical Fitness Needed.
Asserting that 81 believe in ply
sical fitness and I think 1t is i'm
portant for the Nation as q whole,
no matter where the program is