Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-09
BEHIND
NEWS
BY Paul
Mallon

NOlnlHS InuCn VIII ,COIne Oh
the Littell charges that Attor-
ney General Biddle is under the
influence of genial Tommy Cor
coran.
Now that Mr.. Biddle's as
sistant, Norman Littell, has
been fired for insubordinately
making the accusation. he has
taken the charge TO Congress
for investigation. Not much
more investigation is required.
A congressional investigator
who has seen the record of Bid
dies telephone calls (appar-
emily all calls of even the high
est are clicked here since the
war started) says il shows fire.
quent phoning back and forth
between the attorney general
and Corcoran. Indeed, Biddle
does not deny Corcoran was his
friend.
Behind the aired controversy,
singularly. is the fact that Cor
coran now is practically No. l
on the New Deal hate list.
Harry Hopkins never liked
the braSh young Irishman who
contested with him for inner
power.
Hopkins and David Niles.
who are nearest the President
now, should be glad enough TO
see anything happen TO Tommy.
INDEED, / am told that il Cor
Il coran called the White House
today he could find no one who
would talk to him, despite the
tricky service Cor disservice) he
did the New Deal by inspiring
and inwardly conducting the
repacking of the Supreme Court,
his earlier work in development
of the Security Exchange Com
mission legislation Can excellent
job and some other legal gum
Shoeing.
But when Corcoran some years
ago was calling congressman and
saying, This is the White
House speaking-we expect you
10 jump" he managed to be-
friend great many government
men, clearing paths for their
advancement in office, bringing
young lawyers into powerful
government jobs from their in
significant labors. One of those
he helped was Biddle.
Then CorCoran quit govern
ment service (Which was about
10 quit him because of his grow
ing unpopularity) in order TO
cash in on his connections. in a
way not unique among public
men.
FABULOUS stories are told of
Il the money he has since ac-
quired. Perhaps he has managed
10 sequester 100000 year.
after taxes, but he is far from a
million, l suspect.
His clients are not the best
possible and he apparently is
not extremely finicky about
whom he acquires as clients.
But. as I say. nothing is likely
to come of the Littell charge
that Corcoran influenced his
friend the attorney general in
the specific matter of a Georgia
shipyards case, largely because
Congress is the only force likely
to pursue the charge, and Con-
gress is not in the mood.
The truth is. the heart was
taken out of it in the last cleo
ton. 1t will pass such acts as
the freezing of the social secur-
ity tax against Mr.. Roosevelt's
wishes, because il had planned
that and knows increase of the
tax Jan. l is not justifiable for
any social security purposes.
DUT as for investigating the
- whitewashing of Kimmell
and Short or whoever above
them need whitewashing. or pur-
suing Tommy Corcoran. with its
customary righteous indignation,
II lost both righteousness and
indignation Nov. Z.
The liberals have suddenly be-
come righteous about the Cor
coran matter even though both
Corcoran and Biddle are on
their side.
They are agitatine against
Biddle. and while they are not
likely to get him out of his job
at this time, they may grease
the skids for later. and certainly
this case will prevent him from
being kicked upstairs into the
Supreme Court. where unwant-
ed attorney generals usually
rise.
My guess is that Hopkins and
Niles will personally and pri-
vately see to it that Corcoran
does not make much money
and that will be about all there
will be 10 il.
Distributed nv King Features synd Inc