Evening star., 1943-10-03
improvement Noted
On Home Front
By OUen l.. Scott.

Qel1nlte progress In his effort to turn
the attention of the American people
away from their irritation over wartime
restrictions. At the same time, the
President is succeeding in his effort to
| calm down his opposition in Congress-
These successes are due in important
| part to the shreWd advice and skillful
| work of Justice James Byrnes as head
| of the Office of War Mobilization. Jus
| tice Byrnes has insisted upon direct
| action to remove causes of irritation. He
| has dealt rather harshly with high Off
| cials who have insisted upon keeping
| alive issues that he wanted removed. He
| has not heSitated to advise shake-ups of
the internal organization of Government
| in spite of the feelings of officials af-
| fected.
Two White House objectives now are
! obvious.
One of these objectives is to deny to
Congress domestic issues with which to
stir up the country. Only few months
ago there were many of these issues,
aggravated by almost weekly clashes be-
tween high officials. Today the issues
may remain but they are attracting less
and less public excitement
The second of the objectives Is to end
any Democratic party opposition to
fourth nomination. Mr. Roosevelt always
could obtain that nomination after
| fight, but it is preferred that there be
no fight and, if possible, no party op-
position.
Justice Byrnes Makes Peace.
Justice Byrnes received the assign
ment to accomplish the objective of what
might be termed national unity. He set
| about his task by supporting the selec-
ton of officials who are adept at getting
| along with people and with Congress and
| by removing officials who show tend
| ency to stir up discord. He also advised
| that the White House take a new tack
in dealing with Congress. President
| Roosevelt has gone along readily.
What is happening can be seen in
| part from the changed Importance of
personalities in Washington.
Cordell Hull, conservative and an off,
cial who commands the confidence and
respect Of Congress, is in undisputed
control of the State Department. Judge
| Fred VinSon, conservative aid highly
regarded by his former colleagues in
Congress, is shaping economic and war
control policies. Leo Crowley. conserva-
tive and popular with Congress, is run
ming the operating end of American
foreign activities. Edward Stettinius,
| conservative and popular in Congress.
is Undersecretary Of State. Judge Mar
vim Jones, conservative and highly re-
garded in Congress, is running the Food
Administration. And so it goes
The New Deal group, except for Harry
Hopkins, who no longer is promoting New
Deal ideas, now is out of the inner circle
at the top in Washington. Those men,
bers who remain here are staying in the
background until the pendulum swings
again.
The results of this new policy are be-
coming clear
For one thing, the opposition to Presi
dent Roosevelt within the Democratic
party appears to be dead or dying. There
had been a threatened revolt of South
ern Democrats. That revolt no longer
is even whispered. In fact, nobody ap-
ptdIo at ILlIS l4liIC " UC iilofIlis Ott AL
front to try to block. or to complicate.
fourth nomination. Some important party
| leaders are suggesting that Mr. Roosevelt
may be named unanimously on the first
ballot.
For another thing, the Republicans
are finding it somewhat more difficult to
stir the country to excitement on issues
of domestic policy or administration.
People are getting adjusted to rationing
Judge Vinson seems for the moment. at
least to have price imitation under control
so that the living-cost issue is less acute.
Organized labor is inclined to watch its
step little more with strikes getting less
| attention right now.
Battle Victories May Help
If present trends continue, as the
President will try to have them continue,
the White House in 1914 may be able to
point with pride to military victories,
while diverting public attention from the
administrative weaknesses that were so
glaring during much of 1943 In that
case, the opposition might find it's prob
lem rather difficult.
Mr.. Roosevelt appears to be shaping
his political strategy so that the issue of
the 1914 election can center strictly on
the part that the United States shall
play in the postwar world. He appar-
emily prefers not to have that issue clut-
tered up with domestic issues, hoping in
that way to attract the large volume OF
conservative support that can be rallied
to his viewpoint on foreign affairs. The
President always in the past has been
able TO count on the support of much Of
organized labor and Of the lower-income
groups generally.
At the same time, President Roosevelt
desires to be freed from domestic worries
in the period just ahead so that he can
devote his time and thought to problems
of foreign policy that are of the very
greatest Importance. Justice ByrneS Is
seeing to it that the President is accord
ed this freedom by the skillful way he is
dealing with the domestic problems that
reach the White House.
Opponents of this team already are
finding the going somewhat difficult.
These opponents admit that they are
witnessing another example of the Presi-
dents ability in political maneuver.
The Dnieper Boutmen
From the New York Times.
Mother Volga has her fond nickname
y,