The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-11-30
CABINET CHANGES

cf the more ardent of Mr. Roosevelts
/ fourth-term supporters appear to
have swung around to Governor
Dewey's campaign insistcncc that "it
is time for a change"
Of course Mr.. Dewey thought the
change should begin in the White
House, and to that the lcft-wing
| friends of the President strongly dis
scented. So, too, did a sufficient num-
Der Of voters to give Mr. Roosevelt a
large electoral majority. thus extend
ing his lease for four more years. The
changes which some of his very strong
supporters are now urging are in his
Cabinet. Mr.. Dewey urged these, too,
but not the same changes nor for the
same reasons.
For example, the first change
which Mr. Dewey said he would make
involved the removal of Mr.. Ickes
from his position as Secretary of the
Interior. He regarded Mr.. Ickes as
an obnoxious, vituperativc, warped
old man who should be the first to go.
But that isn't the idea of the admin
istrationists now calling for Cabinet
changse. They think Mr. Ickes is nice.
They seem to think he should be the
last to go. Those they want to get
rid of, primarily, are Secretary Of
State Hull and Secretary Of Com
merce Jones. On this they are fairly
unanimous-and only little less so
concerning Secretary of Labor Fran
ccs Perkins, though the reasons they
advance for dropping the Messrs. Hull
and Jones are quite different from
those for dropping the lady.
1t should be understood that this
movement for Cabinet changes comes
exclusively from the more advanced
New Dealers who believe in the New
Deal philosophy and consider the cleo
ton meant that large majority of
the people want that philosophy cX-
tended and continued. Many who voted
for Mr.. Roosevelt solely because they
did not want to risk changing the
Commander in Chief before the war
is over will dissent from that notion.
Nevertheless, it is strongly held by
the more articulate New Deal journal
istic and political spokesman, which
is one reason they are so anxious to
get rid of Mr.. Hull and Mr. Jones.
BY the elmer circle" neither has ever
been regarded as true New Deal
er." They are the conservatives of the
Cabinet and, as such. it is argued
have no place in the fourth-term ad
miniStration. This, of course, sweeps
aside the fact that Mr.. Hull and Mr..
Jones are the two outstanding mem
bers Of the Presidents official family,
more highly regarded throughout the
country, more esteemed and respected
in Congress, and just as loyal to Mr.,
Roosevelt In particular, Mr.. Hull's
conduct of the State Department, his
high character and answering prin-
ciples have been an asset to the
Roosevelt administrations and were
an asset in the recent campaign.
Yet, the advanced thinkers want to
throw them out not only because they
are conservative but because they
want to insure a place for Vice Presi-
dent Wallace, who still remains their
kcro. Mr.. Roosevelt has indicated that
he will have an important post for Mr.,
Wallace, but his liberal friends seem
set upon the Secretary of Stateship.
Those in best position to know are
convinccd-first, that, unless his
health should compel him to resign,
/ Mr.. Hull will continue to serve in his
| present position; second, that should
he resign, Mr.. James f. Byrncs, rath-
CT than Mr.. Wallace, would succeed
him. This would suit the liberals not
at all, in that they regard Mr. Byrncs
as much the same kind of Democrat
as Mr.. Hull and Mr.. Jones.
#at
SO the clattcr for Mr., Wallace as
Secretary Of State continues but the
chances Of its becoming effective de
rot seem great. As to Madame Per-
kins, the drive against her comes
largely from friends of insiders who
want her job; chief among them is
Mr.. Daniel Tobin. head of the team
stcrs' union. The name of Mr.. Sid
ncy Hillman is not mentioned in this
connection, not because it is dcnicc
that he has priority over any Other
labor man but because it is too small
a place for Mr.. Hillman. As head OF
the CLOS Political Action Committee
Mr. Hillman will WELD more influence
and be of greater Importance than il
any Cabinet post. That is the argu
mcnt and, perhaps, it is a sound one
t4T
At any rate. the liberal" element.
are now concentrating on these three
changes. 1t may be they will sue
iced, but there are several reasons