The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-03-24
Observations
Varied Experiences
Crop up in Life in
Nations Capital
BY Helen Essary

II Was tgplNdA " aeAl4b NoA Nos
If you were minding your re.
portorial p's and as. But what n
day! Tearing from Burning Cause
10 Brilliant Personality! Eating.
Drinking. Saving the world with
the great.
1t began early in the morning in
the Pentagon, the foolish, sprawl
ing Pentagon Building. where the
War Department big shots hang
out and on. Took in the CAPITOL
a Republican lady leaders rather
pallid press conference a small
gathering OF enthusiasts engaged
in restoring Robert f. Lees birth
place. And ended with pink ice
cream and handsome oratory about
midnight with the banquet OF the
American Palestine committee,
composed OF Zionists anxious to
keep Palestine opened TO Jewish
refugees despite the opposition OF
the 1929 British White Paper dipio-
matte edict.
The push to the Pentason began
too soon after breakfast-for ne,
at least.
It's confession OF a newspaper
woman. even the cOlumnist kind 10
say that this was the first press
conference Of Secretary OF War
Henry L. Stimson's | had ever d.
tended. I'm glad II was the first.
For as stepped into the big room
with its rows and rows OF chairs
and reporters. and rows OF chairs
and brass hats had a quick
fresh impression OF the serious
manner in which the head Of the
military reports on success and
disaster of our Army overseas.
The war secretary was seated
al a table facing the crowd. Behind
him on the walls were large maps
Of the South Pacific, Europe and
Asia. plus individual maps OF sucn
battle areas as Russia. Italy and
those unpronounceable islands. A
young aide with the air insignia
on his shoulders was pointing out
the places on the maps with long
ruler. as Mr. Stimson read the story
of the wars progress written by
the war Intelligence division.
SO quiet was the room, except for
the ecclesiastical intonatiOns of
Mr.. Stimsons voice, that you
might well have imagined yourself
in church. There was no gaiety
about this press conference. No
quipping nor laughter. 1t was
solemn news the War Secretary
was reporting-"the latest total OF
casualties.
Stimson made you know he real
lied his own responsibility in the
record. His dignity was somehow,
comforting. II gave you COURAGE.
! left the conference believing that
our fight and the men who were
fighting II were being wisely led.
The next taxi hop landed me at
the House Of Representatives Con,
gresham Martin Dies. chairman Of
the un-American activities COM
mittee of the House, was AREA
dy standing before the desk Of his
brother Texan. Speaker Sam Ray
burn. Before him were several
hundred attentive legislators. From
above a crowded gallery looked on.
Congressman Dies mellow SOUTH
ern voice was enumerating the ali
asses which Author John Carlson
used between the time he came 70
this country as an Armenian immi-
grant and the time he wrote I'm
dercover'. Mr.. Dies was conyinc-
ing. He had facts to support his
oratory and beguiling personality.
\ table beside him was piled with
letters. documents and excerpts
from books falsely attacking me-.
Later in the House restaurant
saw the big Texan lunching with
his pretty little wife He didn't
look too happy. Wanted another
hour TO tell my story he said.
well. I'll try TO get It next week
OF the meeting with the Republi-
can lady-she was Mrs. W. Glenn
Suthers OF Chicago, president OF
the National Federation OF Wom-
ems Republican Clubs-Ill tell you
another day in a piece on women
which / am itching TO do.
My next stop was with members
VI iIt iNDUtil l. l<Et .hNilOl idl
Foundation. There's an up and
getting crowd OF. shall ! say. non
public women who are doing one
OF the best jobs OF restoration any
group in the country has done.
They have succeeded in turning
Stratford. the birthplace of the Con-
federste general. into a national
shrine.
The last stopping place in my
day was a hotel and the Palestine
dinner. Outside the banquet hall,
Manpower Commissioner Paul V.
and Mrs. McNutt. Senator and Mrs.
Robert Taft. Senator and Mrs.
RalphBrewster and Senator Ben.
nett {. Clark we're standing in a
group. Senator Robert F. Wagner,
who was TO preside at the ban.
quet. Senator Arthur Capper and
Senator Joe Guffey came by.
At the dinner TT. Abba Hlllel
Silver made an eloquent plea for
fVs u.