The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-17

permitting an SEC representative
inside the hearings.
Prejudiced Mr.. Lea seems to
think that Frum is doing the
Committee a great service.
He gives us his time free of
charge" explained Lea.
Yes, but the Security Dealers
pay him plenty" countered Pur-
cell.
NOTE: Chairman Purcell pays
tribute to the integrity and abil-
ity of Mr.. Frum. 1t is generally
recognized in Washington that
the handspring of the drive
against the SEC is the Investment
Bankers Association, and the Ma
tional Association of Security
Dealers has been representing the
middlemen. The SEC is much
more sympathetic with the mid
dlemen and feels that some of
their proposals are meritorious.
CANADIAN "ABSENTEES"
Canada also has an absentee"
problem, but some government
officials in Ottawa are becoming a
bit cynical about it.
An epidemic of illness in Can
adidn government offices reached
such proportions that reporter
we're prompted to ask c. D. Howe,
Minister of Munitions and Sup
plies if he thought government
employees were being "OverwOrked".
81 can speak only for my
own department." Howe replied,
but no doubt the same thing
obtains in other divisions. have
three kinds of people working
for me one, those with gas
trio ulcers; two, those with a
cardiac condition, and, three,
those with a sense of humOr."
FDR AIDS HIS FOE
Representative Bill Lemke of
North Dakota, one-time candidate
for President, has been a foe of
Franklin Roosevelt from way
back. He staged almost a religi-
Gus crusade against him on
Father Coughlin's Union Party"
ticket in 1886. And he has OPP
posed him on scores of issues.
But when Lemke called on the
President recently for 15-minute
conference, thet wo erstwhile pres
idential foes chatted for 4 5min-
utes.
"Why, how are you, Bill?" the
President exclaimed as the bald,
freckled-faced Dakottan walked
in. Il often. think about you
and that SO campaign. You ran
on a shOestring. but you pOlled
a lot Of votes"
Lemke replied with smile that
he didn't want to take up the
Presidents time talking about old
times.
II have some very pressing
problems OH my mind" he said,
explaining that three important
irrigation projects in his dis
trict were being held up because
of WPB stop order ON steel
and concrete.
ut will be disastrous if we
have another drOuth in my
country" Lemke said. "These
irrigation projects are highly es-
sential to the war food pro-
gram"
Roosevelt agreed that the ir-
rigation projects were needed,
but asked Lemke if there was
enough available labor to complete
them. Lemke replied that there
was plenty of seasonable farm la
Dor, and soldiers furloughed for
form work, to do the job.
"You leave this to me, Bill" de-
cIared the President. "Ill take
care of it,"
A few days later Lemke got a
phone call from the secretary of
General "Pa" Watson, White
House military aide, notifying
him that report on North Da-
kC<a irrigation projects" would
cSSll NC ASodJ.
"These projects are in your
district, Mr.. Lemke," said the
secretary. "but to whom should
send the report?"
"Why, to me, of course" re-
piled Lemke. "Are you surprised
that the President is going to
bat for me-?"
"Well, I'm little surprised"
was the White House secretary's
response.
MERRY GO-ROUND
When Mrs. Roosevelt recently
praised the Slovak League when