Evening star., 1943-01-12
The Political Mill
FIynn's Appointment to Australian Post
Attacked Along Wide Front


1t is no longer necessary. Every
body knows about him now"
At that time it was rumored
that Mr.. Flynn was to be sent as
Ambassador to Mexico. and Mr..
Dewey's comment was: "The
people of Mexico have more to
worry about him than have the
people OF New York. What 4
strain on the good neighbor
policy" Mr.. Dewey, when ques-
toned about the Flynn appoint
ment to Australia, said he would
stand on what he had said In his
Bronx speech last october.
Mr.. Flynn has been Democratic
national chairman since Jim"
Farley stepped out Of that office
in the summer of 1910. after the
latter had split with the President
over the third term" candidacy.
Mr.. Roosevelt was elected in the
campaign of 1910, over which Mr..
Flynn presided, although the
margin Of Mr.. Roosevelt's victory
was much less than 1t had been
in 1882 and 1896.
The National Capital is agog
over the Presidents reasons for
sending Mr.. Flynn to Australia.
Australia is in the Pacific War
theater in q big way. It Is in
Australia that Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur has placed In command
of the United Nations forces.
And it is Gen. MacArthur-with-
out any effort on his part-whose
name has been repeatedly used
as a possible, or even probable,
presidential nominee In 1914. To
the politician it might occur that
Mr.. Flynn's trip to Australia was
for the purpose of keeping an eye
on Gen. Macarthur. This may
be unfair to the President, Gen.
Macarthur and Mr.. Flynn-but is
being said in some quarters.
Confirmation Seen.
Despite the roars from the
Republicans, 1t Is likely that
the Democratic majority in the
Senate will finally confirm the
nomination of Mr.. Flynn-that
is. unless a hearing should re-
veal anything damaging. which
Mr.. Flynn insists 1t will not.
It's poor system which places
men in high posts in the Amer
ican diplomatic system who have
had little or no experience in
foreign affairs. Mr.. Flynn, how
ever, is just another Of those
cases. Diplomatic posts have
been the reward Of political
service-or contributions of one
kind or another-for years and
years In this country. The
number of career men" among
the United States Ambassadors
and Ministers is on the increase,
fortunately.
Mr.. Flynn's successor as DEM
ocratic national chairman will
be Postmaster General Frank c.
Walker, who has host Of
friends on Capitol Hill as we'll as
throughout the country. Mr..
Wslf@ will be elected at the
meeting Of the National Com
mittse which has been called,
for Monday. He was at one time
treasurer Of the National Com
mittee.
There has been talk Of en-
ploying an executive director Of
the National Committee-but 1t
does not seem likely now. The
Job of the new chairman will
be to raise money to keep the
national headquarters in opera
tion during the next year and
a half, and to help pay of any
debts Of the committee. If he
has an efficient Finance Com
mittee, the chairman can leave
the job largely to it. Presum-
ably, however, the chairman
will seek a publicity director
for the committee to take the
place which was occupied 50
long by Charles Nicholson, who
resigned not long ago. It will
be a tough job duplicating Mr..
Michelson.