Evening star., 1942-10-13
Senator Smith Picks
Group 10 Fight Jeffers
For Cotton Protection
Rubber Administrator
Insists Royon Will Be
Substituted in Tires
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The sparks still flew today In
the wake of a verbal collision
between President Roosevelt's
new rubber administrator and a
Senate committee inquiring into
the relative merits of cotton and
rayone for use in heavy duty
tires.
Chairman Smith of the Agricul-
ture Committee announced appoint
ment OF a subcommittee to fight
Tor what he termed the protection
OF cotton from big financial in
terests" after Administrator William
M. Jef1ers had challenged any one
to stop him from substituting rayon
Tor cotton If the Army wanted it
that way.
Senator Smith said he was "bit-
terly disappointed" in the new ad-
ministrator.
Senator Norris, independent, of
Nebraska told reporters on the
other hand that he approved of
the courageous way Mr.. Jeffers
talked before the committee yes
terday, even though he said he
would "hate to see the cotton farm
ers lose this market"
"He talked like he was going to
BE his own boss" Senator Norris
said. I'VE need administrators like
that In this Government"
First Back Talk in Years.
It was the first time in years
that a Government official had
. talked back" in such strong Ian
guage to committee which had
called him on the carpet.
At one point Mr.. Jeffers literally
growled at Senator Smith and at
another he challenged the Senators
to try to stop him from taking a
step he considered best for the war
effort.
Mr.. Jeffers, former president Of
the Union Pacific Railroad, told
the committee he was Indifferent to
pressure groups and that 1 If the
Army wanted rayon substituted for
cotton he would so order.
. Senator Stewart, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, appointed chairman Of
the subcommittee to gather all
the facts, for and against cotton"
said he would start hearings soon.
Senator'S Ellender, Democrat, Of
Louisiana and Aiken, Republican, of
Vermont were named to serve with
him.
IT sent a letter to Mr.. Jeffers
yesterday asking him for the names
Of all the people who recommend
the substitution OF rayon and for all
Of those who asserted cotton was
oetter." Senator Smith told report
afS.
Disapproves Delay.
'Mr. Jeffers said he was tired Of
those who have charge of our af-
fairs gambling in this desperate
hour. Yet he's approving substi-
tuition for cotton which has been
:lsed In tires for years. If there's
gambling, he is doing it."
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, agreed that "it looks like
i gamble" to make the change and
edded these Government admins
t-ators try to make people believe
l.hey have monopoly on patriotism
and the desire to win this war"
Disappearing a suggestion for
delay in the authorization of $50
100000 for expansion of rayon pro-
auction until cotton tests now un-
Ter way were completed, Mr.. Jelfers
declared that we've been gambling
700 long on this situation"
He added he would send for the
Army and say, DO you want it or
don't you want it," and act ac-
cordingly, so that it could not be
said II lack the intelligence and CUTS
to do a job"
II cotton can be used as we'll, he
declared, cotton will be used, and
the rayon production will be "a good
insurance"
Its a high-prioed insurance"
Senator Bankhead, Democrat, of
Alabama. told reporters. Senator
3ankhead declared the authorize
ton was recommended by a War
Production Board Advisory Com
inittee of nine, seven of whose mem
bers he said were employees Of tire
companies and others interested
in rayon.