Evening star., 1944-11-27

any showdown Frank 4. Kent.
the combined pressure of these
elements cannot or will not b'
resisted by the President. What
ever slight concessions he may make
to the conservative side, once the
issue is drawn, the radicals win.
There should be no surprise about
that Such has been the consistent
record Of the past three admins
trations. They are literally studded
with instances of the Presidents
asking advice of conservative friends
like Mr.. B. M. Baruch, starting ir
the conservative direction and ther
being swung around by left-wine
advisers and labor pressure.
There was never clearer ex-
ample than afforded by the Surplus
Property Board appointees, an
nouncea a few days ago.
Revealing Story.
That story is most revealing. II
starts with the President asking
Mr.. Baruch to make recommended
tions for unwinding us from a war
time to a peacetime economy. After
months of study, the Baruch- Han
cock plan was completed. Prac-
tically everybody, including the
President, commended it. A vital
part of the plan for reconversion
was in the prompt and effective
disposal of surplus war products
and plants.
To work out this large and in
tricate business, at the request OF
Mr.. Byrnes, the Messrs. Baruch and
Hancock recommended Mr.. Will
Clayton, able, experienced, wealthy
and patriotic. His sponsors thought
him better qualified for this par
ticular Job than any other man in
the United States. Approved by
the President, he was appointed by
Mr. Byrnes
After months of hard work, Mr..
Clayton found it impossible, be-
cause of CIO opposition, to get
through Congress the necessary
legislation. He found not only his
bill but himself the target for at
tack from the radicals and with no
support from the President.
In the end, Congress passed a
bill under which Mr.. Clayton de-
clared the job could not be proper
ly done and resigned. Among those
who appreciate the Importance of
this surplus-product disposal there
was deep disappointment not only
over the character of the bill but
over the loss of Mr.. Clayton's serv-
ices.
There things stood up to few
weeks ago, when, at the request of
Mr. Byrnes, Mr.. Clayton suggested
two men whom he thoug t
equipped, and Secretary of Com
merce Jones suggested third man
of recognized qualifications for the
board of three which. under the
new law, is to have the RESPONSE
bility.
There was every expection that
the President would name these
men and that at least the power
would be in experienced hands.
But these ideas did not last long
Almost Immediately the radical
groups began their attack. Mr..
Jones and Mr.. Clayton were as
sailed as greedy monopolists. The
capable men they recommended
were referred to as "henchmen"
and tools of the interests Mr..
Baruch was alleged to be behind
the whole game
The labor leaders: their hero Mr..
Henry Wallace, and various third
rate Senators joined in. A terrific
din was made in press and over
the air, The President was be-
sought not to be deceived, to stand
by those who elected him"
Reading and listening to this
outpouring, one would have thought
that Mr.. Jones, Mr.. Clayton and
MI. Baruch were sinister, selfish
fellows, who plotted to promote
brutal monopoly, give away Govern
ment property to greedy business
men and deprive the common
man" Of his rights.
Campaign Got Results.
1t was silly, shrill and ridiculous
campaign, but it got results. Under
1t, Mr.. Roosevelt swung around. He
ditched the three names laid before
him by his chief assistant. War
Mobilizer Byrnes, and has an
nounced three new names for the
board.
= Two OF these are lame-duck poll
tlcians-Robert A. Hurley, defeated
Democratic candidate for Governor
OF Connecticut, and Senator Guy
Gillette, defeated for reelection in
Iowa. The third member is Lieut..
Col. Edward Heller of California,
about whom little is known. but
who has had some business expert
ence
That is the story and it must be
conceded, except to the radicals
who swung the President around,
1t is not a pretty one, though lot
new.
This surplus product disposal is
admittedly of great Importance. In
stead of this job being done under
an intelligent law by single man
whose qualifications are beyond
question, it is now to be done under
a weak law by three mediocre men
who no one will claim were ap-
pointed on merit, who never would
have been thought of if merit had
been the sole consideration, who
were never under serious considera-
ton by the President until the at
tack OF his radical friends upon the
I IT TAKES 4
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