The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-02

the pest mayor LlLJle Old House of Representatives fol 1 But as Administrator of Ci- vilian Defense, the Little Flower, much as we love him, has been a flop.
 This didn't matter so much as long as the country was still at peace. But now with blackouts, first aid training, bomb protection a very real thing, Civilian Defense becomes actually the second line of the nations defense.
 F1orello still continues to want to boss the whole show, still can not delegate authority, still has vigorous differences with Mrs. Roosevelt, event to the point of reaching into her division and firing two of her aides. This caused sparks to fly, and the irate First Lady has now rehired her assistants.
 The differences between the Mayor and Mrs. R. illustrate some of the things which may be wrong with Civilian Defense.
 BANDMASTER LA GUARDIA
 Forello, in the first place, can't get out of the habit of thinking in terms of the bandmaster or theatrical producer. (His father was an army bandmaster) He sees uniforms, fire hats, senational rescues as movie material.
 Mrs. Roosevelt, on the other hand, believes that civilian de- fense must be built from the ground up, from the poorer peo- pie who don't have the price of uniforms, the type of people who have been the backbone of civilian defense in England. She also sees the picture Tn terms of morale building, and long-range work even in communities where bombs may never fall.
 This difference came out sharply when LaGuardia announced that Civilian Defenders would have smart, expensive uniforms de- signed by Hattie Carnegie. Ac- cording to Mrs. Roosevelt's friends he wanted the Defenders to be slim, slender females, smartly cos tuned, parading down Fifth ave- nue, saluting him from the re- viewing stand.
 But Mrs. Roosevelt wanted the Civilian Defenders to be simple folk who would join for real ser- vice and who would wear a cos- tune costing not more than three dollars.
 WATCH PAUL McNUTT
 One of the great troubles has been that LaGuardia necessarily had to spend much of his time in New York. but meanwhile in- sists on passing on minute de- tails. In fact, his office once had to fly an assistant up to New England to catch the Mayor and get his initials on some page proofs for a Civil Defense bull letein.
 In order to ease LaGuardia to the sidelines, Roosevelt first off, fered the job to Wendell Willkie, has since been considering the appointment of a chief executive who would really do the job for the Little Flower. But more re- gently Roosevelt's friends have been urging a complete house. cleaning, pointing out that he must profit by the lessons of the Churchill cabinet, and that the time has come when personal friendships cannot be put above wartime efficiency.
 NOTE Keep an eye or Paul V. McNutt who has done quiet, efficient job as Federal Security Administrator, to be LaGuardia's successor. ..."
 HITLER AND NEGROES
 After a trip through the south. Chip Robert, ex-secretary of the Democratic National Committee is assuring friends that the Me- groes are possibly more opposed to Hitler tthan the rest of the coun- try.
 As an illustration he cites among other things, 8 converse tion with an old servant in At lanta, who said:
 Mister Chip, I hear this man
 Hitler wants to send all the colored folks over to Africa"
 'T guess he'd make it pretty bad for all of us, Auntie."
 'Well I reckon we've all got to pitch in and win this here
 war. It'd be awful bad for us If Hitler came over here. I've got brother in Detroit and my
 mother in Macon, and the rest of the family scattered aall around, and I hopes If we does
 have to go to Africa, Mister
 Chip, you'll help to get us all
 on the same boat.
 But I sure don't like the idea
 of going to Africa, Mister Chip. the clock and throughout the calen Iar . . . prodI1ctiou of iIYke hOxe.