Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-12-04

10 a Sui lObS Va tliC l0uN
Louis Howe and the late Col. House
though, perhaps, it is unjust to say
as some do. that he combines the
worst qualities Of both"
One of his listed titles is Special
Assistant to the President and
that he is, in big way. No other
assists him as much, is trusted as
much, seen as much, listened to as
much. All other assistants to the
President" are of less degree. Mr.
Hopkins is very special, indeed
Indeed, when one looks at Others
who have been called assistant tc
the President, one finds that MIR
Hopkins was behind them. The
latest example is Mr.. Donald Nelson
who, when he returns from China
is to have an office in the State
Department Building, the title OF
Assistant to the President" and
duties of SO nebulous character
as to appear ridiculous.
Hopkins Men.
1t Is general knowledge that Mr..
Hopkins was the chief supporter of
Mr.. Nelson when he was made head
of the WPB, and that he continues
TO be his supporting friend. But there
7re many others in far more i'm
portant posts whom Mr.. Hopkins is
credited with having promoted and
who are looked upon as Hopkins
men.
For example, there is Mr.. Averill
Hartman, our Ambassador to Rus
STA, and Mr.. John Winant, our AM
bassador to Great Britain. There is
also Mr.. Leon Henderson, slated as
economic adviser over occupied Ger
many. probably because of the great
tact, skill and amiability with which
he once administered OPA and
which he certainly left in most
miserable state.
All these, it has been said in print,
were supported by Mr. Hopkins,
to some degree owe their posts to
his friendship and are, to large ex-
tent, his selections.
However, the most recent Of Mr..
Hopkins triumphs is the appoint
ment of Mr.. Stettinius as Secretary
of State. Informed correspondents
point out that Mr.. Stettinius is Mr.
Hopkins special friend and was his
choice for Mr. Hulls successor
that he was anything but friendly
to the selection of either Mr.. Henry
Wallace or Mr. James F. Byrnes;
that Mr.. Stettinius is his man, has
been ever since his lease-lend days.
On Friday journalist with many
administration pipelines proclaimed
that Harry Hopkins has prepared
for Stettinius a sweeping reorgan-
liza ton of the State Department.
Under the Hopkins plan, Mr.. Nelson
will become one Assis-
tant Secretary of State and Mr.. Will
Clayton the other.
This publication further sustains
the theory of the increased Hopkins
power and his extreme closeness to
the President. However, the story
would not be complete without men
ton of Mr.. Sidney Hillman, who
has just left for England.
Channel to President.
Mr.. Hopkins and. Mr.. Hillman
work together, Mr.. Hopkins is Mr..
Hillman's channel to the President.
Mr.. Hillman is Mr.. Hopkins political
right bower. The two men are very
close-were all through the cam
paign and before. The situation
causes some shrewd fellows to say
that while 1t may not be necessary
now to clear everything with Sid
ney" those who do not clear with
Harry" will not get very far.
To sum up, there Is no figure in
the Roosevelt circle who pulls as
much weight as Mr.. Hopkins. There
Is a difference of opinion as to
whether his influence Is good or
bad. Certainly, he is no longer as
radical as in the days when he
talked about tax, tax, tax; spend,
spend, spend: elect. elect, elect"
though from his viewpoint 1t still is
good political strategy.
: But he does not depise wealth, as
he once did. Some of his intimate
friends are very wealthy men. He
likes the luxuries money can buy
and he likes those fat checks from
his magazine articles.
Besides being special assistant
Mr.. Hopkins is chairman of the
Munitions Assignment Board, a
member Of the War Mobilization
Committee, member of the Central
Committee of the Red Cross and
trustee of the Franklin D. Roosevelt
Library.
He is no longer regarded as an ex-
IRENE New Dealer. He is an ex-
IRENE Roosevelt man the most
extreme there is-deveutly believing
in Mr.. Roosevelt, eager to keep him
indefinitely in the White House and
a thousand per cent loyal
But, when one considers his obli-
cations, it would be extremely
strange if he were not There are
some who think that Mr. Roosevelt
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