The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-16

American air bases in China, Col onel de Pass sent several cables to the War Department diSmissing the Nipponese moves as unimport- ant. Later, he even described the Jap drive as a maneuver to train green Japanese troops.
 It was only when the Japs reached the edge of Kweilin that
 Col. de Pass began to take their
 drive seriously, finally cabled that China was in grave danger.
 NOTE: There also has been a running battle between American officials as to whether more aid should go to Chiang Kai-Shek'S ground forces or to General Chen nault's airmen. The Chinese DOT tions of the cargoes sent to China are still largely paper currency to meet the GeneraliSismo's pay roll, and civilian goods.
 WALLACE-"QUITE A MAN"
 Shortly after the election, de- voted Vice Presidential secretary Harold Young was walking up Fifth avenue, bumped into Leon Henderson, shrewd New Deal brain-truster Ed Prichard, and CIO president, Phillip Murray.
 The immediate topic of conver- sation was the bang-up job Vice President Wallace had done for Roosevelt. Harold Young eulo- gized Wallace as a great political campaigner, told how he had learned to make quick, extempor- aneous speeches.
 "Yes, sir," Young siad. "He's
 quite a man now"
 Do you really mean it, Har-
 Old?" replied Murray. Have you
 got him drinking coffee yet?"
 NOTE: Wallace rarely uses coffee, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, is the best tennis player on Capitol Hill.
 MISS PERKINS
 READY TO QUIT
 If President Roosevelt will &C., cept her resignation, Madam Sec retary Perkins will fold her tent just as eagerly as some of her critics want her to.
 For at least three years, the Secretary of Labor has been anxious to quit, has quietly held her peace in the face of violent attacks from Republicans and Democrats alike, even in the face of subtle undermining of her de- partment by her Cabinet foes. Real fact is that the Labor De- partment has now lost more than 90 per cent of its key functions through the skilful manipulation of Presidential executive orders by Miss Perkins enemies within the Administration.
 Most of Miss Perkins jobs have gone to Federal Security Admin istrator Paul McNutt. Numerous other functions ordinarily with in the province of the Labor De- partment have bene strewn among a dozen Federal war agencies. Up to about a years ago, Fannie con- tinued in the power-grabbing bat tie. though with diminishingn en- thusiasm. Regularly, she had lawyers for the Labor Department draft executive orders for Roose- velt's signature returning many functions to her department. Just as regularly, these found their way into the Presidential waste basket.
 Now, tired Fannie wants to go
 home, perhaps back to her na-
 tive Boston, would like a take it easy after more than twenty
 five years of difficult public service.
 NOTE: Leading candidate for the Perkins post is AFL teamsters' union head, bull-voiced, warm hearted Dan Tobin, who has the CLOS blessing as well as that of his own AFL.
 MERRY-GO-ROUND
 You can look for the OPA to drop its control on egg prices about the first of the year. This will not mean that the housewife will pay higher prices-probably the contrary, because the Giver1- ment is going to stop buying such tremendous amounts of eggs. Also a terrific surplus of eggs is now cluttering New York ware houses Freedom House. which awarded it's annual medal last year to Wendell Willkie, this year will honor Sumner Welles "as the man of the year who has done the most for peace and security" The award will take place in New York on Nov. 28, with Herbert Bayard Swope pre- siding. .''SVe might just as well have elected Dewey" moaned