The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-22
> Clapper
Criticize Critics
Of Flynn
Democratic Committee
supports President
Ants See Beginning
OF Revolt
Nay Be Ammunition
For lsolsfionisfs
ny RAYMOND cLAPPER

by RAYMOND CLAPPER
WASHINGTON Not in 50
years has the senate rejected a
diplomatic appointment Seldom
Goes II even ask questions.
For 10 ye9Bs President Roose-
VII has becn making diplomatic
Appointments II must mean
something that suddenly. after
Al this time. . furious contro-
versy should break out over the
appropriateness Of such an ap-
poirtment The controversy can
not Be treated ~ the Demo-
cratic national committee at
temp1 70 treat it.
Al its meeting this week the
national committee adopted a
rather intolerant resolution stat
ing that criticism AZ the nomi-
nation of Edward J. Flynn to be
minister 10 Australia was a treas
enable plot to destroy confidence
In the commander-i That
hystencal resolution was the first
act Of the national committee
under its new chairman. POST
master General Frank Walker.
The COMMITTEES resolution pre-
tends that the whole question
about the fitness of the Flynn
appointment IL q plot against the
president. IN act of sabotage.
But thu mistake obviously was
the PRESIDENTS In naming Mr..
Flynn.
Time and again. Mr.. Roosevelt
has nominated men for diplo-
matte posts. without any criticism
being registered. Often they have
been political appointments of
men without diplomatic expert
ence. Joseph Kennedy and Rob-
ert Bingham were named to
Great Britain. DR.. William Dodd
to Germany. Claude Bowers 10
Spain and Chile. Bert Fish 10
Portugal. Laurence Steinhardt 10
Sweden. Peru. Russia and Tur-
key. and one Of the most out
standing Of all. Joseph z. Davies
TO Ruasia-all without contro-
versy.
A diplomatic appointment. like
one to the cabinet. n I highly
personal matter with the presi-
dent The only cabinet appoint
ment to be rejected since recon-
struction days was that Of
Charles Beecher Warren TO be
attorney general under Coolidge.
He had been charged by the fed
eral trade commission with vio-
lating the anti-trust laws and,
whethsr fairly or not. all the
Democrats In tia senate and 10
Of the progressive Republicans
felt It was inappropriate for him
10 Be attorney general.
The Democratic national COM
mittee Is attempting TO obscure
the presidents blunder by de-
nouncing the critics as being
guilty of an unpatriotic and back
handed attack on the commander
in-chief. II that is to be the tech
nique of the new management of
the Democratic national commit
tee. then the job of the admins
tration win be more difficult
than ever-snd II won't be easy
under the best Of conditions.
This administration In in severe
danger of becoming isolated from
the American voters Farmers
have quite generally turned
against it Democrats control
almost nothing in the middle
west Labor isn't securely held.
The administration best sp-
peal now ID In behalf Of its ideals
for Z better world after the war,
and its ability to turn those ideals
into reality. II has partially sold
the country. The world ideals for
which Henry Wallace has been
most vocal and for which the
president. Secretary Hull. Sum-
ner Welles and the New Deal
generally stand have a deep APP
peal. They voice the revolt
against war. the determination
70 make this the last war.
But al Of that takes a rough
Jolt when the president makes a
cynical appointment like that Of
Ed Flynn TO one of our most i'm
portant and difficult assignments.
Mr.. Flynn was under 30 much
fire that his value as Democratic
national chairman on the eve of
1914 had been seriously reduced.
Some regret to see diplomatic
post 80 important to our inter-
national relations used as a pay
off for a political manager who
had become an employment prob
lem.
Also II il depressing 10 see US
importing into North Africa, un-
der tl,e banner Of the four free
doms. the former vichy ambas-
sador to Argentina He flew from
Buenos Aires to North Africa a
few days ago and has been made
governor Of Algiers. Censorship
allows few facts about poliu-
cal conditions in North Africa TO
reach the American public. But
Ernie Pyle's recent dispstc b
about snakes in North Africa Is