Imperial Valley press., 1945-05-24
WHITE HOUSE FAMILY
BREAKUP BEGINS

President Truman has four new cabi-
net members The official White House
family almost has been cut in two. Just
when the chief executive will make a
complete turnover has not been dis
closed.
Only one cabinet member originally
named when the new deal regime took
over in 1888 now remains on at his post
interior Secretary Harold Ickes. Ac-
ceptance of Miss Perkins resignation
from the department of labor saw an
other 1888 appointee disappear from the
field of action.
Announcement of designations of Ickes
and Morgenthau any time now would
cause no surprise either in Washington
or among observers in general, although
it is understood the President has said
that Morgenthau's resignation, if offer
ed would not be accepted. No such state
ment has been made concerning Ickes.
First break in the circle came with the
retirement of Postmaster General Walker
soon after Truman's taking office. At
that time it was known that an early
change was contemplated in the labor
i pOIlIOllO, UuG. IUG ICSlSHdJlOIlS VI w i'm
ard and Biddle were not expected at this
time, although the current of conversa-
tion and rumors at the national capital
had them both ION the way out Wickard
will remain in the administration as. head
of the rural electrification administra-
tion He is an Indiana "dirt farmer"
Taking the helm Of Biddles depart
ment is a Texan who was serving as
assistant to the attorney general. 1t is
said of him that he is able to ''get along
pretty we'll with all departments" and in
cidentally, he is the youngest cabinet
member except Stettinius and there are
only few months difference-both as.
Biddle has been a misfit from the mo-
ment he was named to succeed Robert H.
Jackson who went to the supreme court
bench as did Jackson's predecessor,
Frank Murphy. Biddle will be remen-
bered for his unbridled, irresponsible
declarations at the time the government
first seized the Ward stores in Chicago.
Said he in substance then there is no con-
stitutional limit to the powers of the
chief executive in war time" He played
around with his job with far journeys
into the leftists habitats.
The new labor secretary comes to the
cabinet also on the left hand side of the
road more or less His qualification
rests largely on the fact that before he
became a United States senator in 1885
on the new deal' landslide, he was at
torney for labor unions in his native
state of Washington. He was one of the
prime actors in favor of the supreme
court packing venture and consistently
has been a new deal advocate and sup
porter. He ended his senate career to
become district federal judge.
Wickard's successor in the department
of agriculture has been representative in
congress from New Mexico and was serv-
ing his third term. He likewise is classed
as one of the top notch new dealers. He
has been serving as chairman of house
committee investigating food shortages.
He served as state treasurer in New
Mexico and had several federal places
under Roosevelt. In private business he
headed a building and loan agency He
is not farmer.
Since the three new appointees are from
the west 4 -(Hannegan,. new postmaster
general is from Missouri) it hardly can
be expected that when Ickes quits his
successor also will be from the west.
So far cabinet appointments have come
from among strong party workers, close
ly allied with Truman in his political ac-
tivities prior to and at the Chicago con-
vention.