Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-03-30
BEHIND
THE NEWS
BY Paul
MaIIon

WASHINGTON. March 30
w a comment frequently
heard among men in the po-
liiical know IS
Dewey has good men around
him"
lie has. They are fresh
type 10 politics and govern
mcnt. the nucleus being young
lawyers and neWspapcrmcn an
interesting combination OF
talent and background.
| have often wondered if a
man who knows international
ways in the Shrewdly balanced
news business world, such as
Kent Cooper, head of the ASSO-
Clated Press, might not neGo-
tate a better peace than our
professional diplomats. and if
a neWsman. say of the type OF
w a ) hlngton correspondent
Arthur krock, might not make
a better ambassador than any
of the bad Judges of informa-
ton we have had as ambassa-
doris.
A phase of this thought has
been developed in Gov. Dcwey'S
combination. Closest 10 him
perhaps, in the field of eco
Monies and governing the banks
OF the state, is a former assoc
Clatc editor of the New York
Times, Elliott Bell. You would
expect a banker or profess
Sor of finance in this Job. The
New York bankers may have
been startled by the selection.
but, strangely enough, they
have come TO be more than
satisfied with the Bell admins
tratlon. 1t IS popular among
them.
Also from the Times is the
Dewey public relations man.
James Hagerty. son of the po-
iitical sage of the Times staff.
selected apparently by Dewey
not for social reform purposes
or for press agentry. but to do
a job.
Tl1E governors executive Sec
rotary. personal political
man, and constant companion. IS
likewise Paul Lockwood. an old
Brooklyn Eagle graduate who
Joined the Dewey Coterie in dis
trict attorney days, and thereby
IS both lawyer and neWS-man.
As agricultural dvisers.
Dewey has Chester Dumond (5S
years old and far above the av-
erage age Of the Dewey tribe),
a farm economist who does dirt
farming; II. T.. Babcock of Cor
nell, founder of the Grange
League Federation, and Cornell
Prof William |. Myers, founder
of the Agricultural Credit Cor
poration for Secretary Of the
Treasury Morgenthau, now state
superintendent of agriculture
His party politics are handled
by Republican state officials
(mainly State Chairman Edwin
j Jackie Of Buffalo, and Her
bert Brownell Jr.. a Nebraska
born New York lawyer.
His finance commissioner, Roll
lin Browne, is an Alabama-b born
Democrat, and successful New
York attorney.
4 MONG the few with class
"A room professional back
ground is the budget director,
John Burton of Hiram College,
who lectured al Northwestern
University on economics.
Dewey spends A long time
picking his men. and his choice
seems based largely on getting
the best man for a good Job mot
politics. personal friendliness,
pull, etc).
For instance. he chose a Bath,
y. Y. hardware store propri-
etor. John White. who had
career in leading wild life
groups. as the conservation
commissioner of the state.
lRooseYelts appointee 10 this
office when he was governor
was Henry MorgenthauD
For the civil service commits
sion. Dewey avoided politics and
chose a Judge Edward Con-
way) and a woman with 30
years experience in personnel
m agem emf Miss Louise
Gerry.
His administrative manner is
best disclosed in his long pur-
suit of the right man 10 become
commissioner Of mental hygiene.
The law foohshly required an
-dpoottftee HAD been IN faifF4-
insane hospital Cas director, not
necessarily inmate) for 10 years.
Dewey had the law changed,
secured the best outside avail
able man for the Job. Frederick
MCCurdy, who combined admin
iSlrative ability with psychiatric
knowledge.
LIE HAD 10 60 TO Iran, after
IL months of search for a pub
Charles Sells. who was building
dams, bridges and docks for A
private American concern over
there under government con-
tract.
Since Dewey became cover
nor the newspapers have never
carried a line suggesting conflict