The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-02-19
b. RAY TUCKER
uASHINGTo~

two daring men on a Republican
trapeze after constant attempts to
persuade the president to sponsor
such a proposal had failed.
Grenville Clark, Gotham lawyer
and superpatriot, framed the ini-
tial measure for mastering factory
workers, as well as the first draft
program. Last December he
handed a copy to Paul V. MeNutt,
who was enthusiastic about the
idea. The Hoosier's lawyers then
prepared at least three versions.
with the federal security admins
traitor as absolute car in this
field. The president however,
turned thumbs down on the ground
that it was not politically ex-
pedient" and the Clark-McNutt
scheme has been awaiting a green
light from the chief executive ever
since.
AS recently as three weeks ago
Mr.. Roosevelt sent word that he
was opposed TO the proposition
He would not assume RESPONSE
bilitv for such drastic and revo-
lutionary innovation despite the
fact that nearly all his chief aides
-Messrs. Nelson, Wickard, Her
shey etc.-sre privately alarmed
about the prospective shortage OF
personnel 10 operate the guns, pull
the levers and pillow the fields.
When Messrs. Wadsworth and
Austin learned of this presidential
hesitancy they decided 1t was
time to force the issue into the
open.
The stop Roosevelt in 1914"
clique has already progressed 70
the consideration of candidates
who might run interference for its
side even if 1t does not crash the
convention goal line. Although
somewhat premature and specula-
tive they are proceeding on the
sound assumption that you cant
',eat somebody with nobody
Latest prospect 20 he men,
TONED in congressional cloak
rooms is Sam Rayburn OF
Texas, Speaker of the House
of Representative. Regardless
of the fact that his close
friends from the Lone Star
state scott at the idea they
realize that II Is too soon TO
run I'M his standard), the
Texan probably would not be
aVerse to the suggestion. oi
late ne has acted as II he were
grooming himself.
Although a loyal New Dealer IN
the early days of the administra-
ton. he has permitted individual
LEGISLATORS and committees to
take a few mean pokes at FDh.
He seems inclined 10 give the
House its head in denouneing ana
exposing the bureaucrats down
town
The speakers name Is ire
uuently braoketed with that OF
James A. Farley, who Is be-
neved 10 have his eye on the
nomination. There Is talk OF
a y-Rayburn ticket and
vice versa, but II Is not
thought likely that Jim would
accept the No. 2 position.
With the Democrats chances
growing DINNER daily, some stra-
tegists profess to feel that Far
ley-Rayburn slate offers the best
hope of victory They argue that
the innately conservative Rayburn
would hold the rebellious South
ern and border states, while the
popular New York State chair
man might bring in such common
wealths as Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey. Pennsylvania and
Illinois. Il may be only idle chat
ter but II shows how the anti
Roosevelt winds are blowing on
Capitol Hill.
Unwritten chapters of re-
cent history continue 10 throw
fresh light on our dealings
with Britain even before
Japan dragged the United
States into war by the assault
on Pearl Harbor. The latest
Illumination Of dark Anglo
American corLers djscloses
that Wendell Willlde was
party TO the destroyers-bases
swap long before the Ameri-
can people knew Of that trans
action.
Il was revealed by this writer
on January 25th that at the in
spirstion Of an American reporter
the late Lord Lothian, then Brit
ish ambassador TO Washington,
recommended that the Admiralty
buy fifty supposedly obsolete war
ships from this country. He made
his proposal in June 1910 and II
immediately found favor ~ 10
Downing street and 1900 Pennsyl-
vania Avenue. Apprehensive lest
nominee WiIlkie should use the
exchange as a political irritsnt.
administration scouts saw hin and
asked II ne would waive the bar
ter as q campaign issue.
The COP sta q a rd oearer
agreed. but insisted OF rstfics-
ton BY congress. Once he had
given this qualified assent, the
White House figured that ne was