The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-30

l.
Pew is reported by close friends
to have finally decided to throw
his millions behind his fellow Phil
adelphian Roberts as the ideal
choice for the Republican party
and the only man who could de-
feat Roosevelt, should he run
for a fourth term.
Pew, who controls the Sun Oil
and Sun Ship millions, has not
been renowned for his success
as political picker in the past.
Nevertheless, his political influ-
ence in Pennsylvania highly
important key state is now
greater than that of any other
man, and his power inside COP
smoke-filled councils is not to be
amazed at.
Pew was not too enthusiastic
Willkie man at the last COP
convention in Philadelphia, and
has not been since. However,
his grooming Of Justice Rob-
erts, according to friends, Is not
aimed entirely at blocking Will
kie.
He figures that the COP con-
vention is likely to reach dead
lock between Willkie and Dewey,
and that safe, sound middle-of-
the-road candidate will then be
needed to step in.
In the opinion of Joe Pew, JUS
tice Roberts fills that role. He
has supported the Presidents
foreign policies, has cooperated
with the White House in probing
the Pearl Harbor scandal, and
was not as much of bitter-ender
as other Republican Supreme
Court justices nj opposing New
Deal PHILOSOPHERS. Roberts is
also a forceful speaker, tall, hand
some, and should be a good cam
paigner.
From physical viewpoint his
only handicap is his age.
WORLD PEACE PROMOTER
Justice Roberts has always suf-
fered from slight touch of "presi-
dentitis" and was talked about as
Republican candidate as far back
as 1886. Recently he has been
called to the White House for con-
ferences abotu the idea of head
ing up a non-partisan commits
sion which would begin now t to
study postwar peace.
The Presidents idea Is to
select a Republican to head this
peace planning group SO that he
could not be accused of playing
politics; also so there would be
Republican support for the
peace treaty. The President
considered Roberts the ideal
man for this job, wanted him
to help in heading off what be-
fell Woodrow Wilson.
White House intimates expected
this plan to go through some
time ago. 1t may mbe, however,
that Joe PeW's ambition for JUS
tice Roberts have Sidetracked it.
Obviously the Justice could not
afford to get himself into a
position where he was serving the
President and then running
against him.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
HENDERSON
Leon Henderson, too tough ex-
OPAdministrato who some peo-
pie wish was back on the job,
will go on the radio soon. Before
his contract was signed, his pro-
gram was offered to Columbia
Broaodcasting company, which,
threw up its hands, fatty refused
to sell Henderson any time on the
air, even at the juicy price Of
around $1,000 per Is minutes.
ITO controversial" was Co.
lumbia's Mortified reply.
Henderson has now signed a
contract with a more liberal radio
network, but later he bumped into
William S. Paley, head o + Co
lumbia Broadcasting. Paley once
had studied under Henderson when
the ex-OPAdiministrator was a
professor att he University OF
Pennsylvania. So Paley under
took to give his former teacher
some advice.
Leon" advised purist Paley,
"the thing for you to do Is be
absolutely On-cOntrOversial.
read the news as it comes over
the ticker. Don't comment on 1t.
Don't inject your own person.
atty. just eb a straight news
commentator. You must avoid
controversy"
Thanks, pal" replied the man
who has spent most Of his life
telling the public what he thinks
in NO uncertain terms. 1--WE
signed up with another network