The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-05

labor front.
 Some of his advisers felt, how ever, that these problems, es- pecially the coal crisis, could naIe been averted by beginning to pre- pare for 1t earlier and by ap- pointing a new Secretary of La- Dor.
 The President left for Yalta almost immediately after his inauguration. And, up until a day or two before his inaugu- ration, he had not made up his mind what to do about appoint ing a new Secreatry of Labor. In the end, he did nothing and Miss Perkins continued, de- spite her very firm desire to re- sign.
 Meanwhile various moves could have bene made to head off the coal crisis. One of them. dis cussed in the background but never brought forward, is an an- nual wage for miners. If the miners knew they would be able to work all the year around, eS- pecially in peace times when they have been laid off for about one third of the time. they might forego wage increases now.
 Another move. proposed back stage. was to appoint coal mine representatives on local OPA boards to make sure the cost of living did not go up, or if so, un- der circumstances they under stood.
 But the most important move was to have appointed a new Secretary of Labor, with a new fresh outlook, untarnished pres- tige, who could have tackled the job first-hand, and, if neces- sary, gone out to the mining areas to meet with the miners themselves.
 No one is looking for this thank less job. But senate colleagues say the one man who could do 1t. If willing. would be fortnight. fair-minded Senator Harley Kilgore, who comes from the great coal state of West Virginia. is known and trusted by labor but also would not hesitate to oppose labor when 1t is wrong. PEACE-LOVING ICKES
 The Senate Judiciary Commit mittee. passing on the qualifica- tions of Judge Nathan Margold for the Federal Bench, was mov- ing quietly along with his old chief, Secretary Ickes, on the stand. AS usual during the read ing of prepared statements, the Senators let their attention wan" der.
 But suddenly Senator McCar- ran of Nevada snapped to atten" ton. "What did you say, MT. Secretary" he asked.
 Ickes smiled innocently, then re-read from his prepared state- ment: "As everyone knows. l am Q very amIcabIe and peacelOvine man. ! dent like fights. legal Os otherwise"
 startled McCarran replied. "Is that statement of fact" Mrs. HecretaTy?"
 "OR course 1t B." replied the tempestuOus Mr. Ickes In his best butter. wouldn't. melt-in-his mouth manner. "Its . fact, and that's why I'm putting It in the record"
 McCarran smiled. advised Ickes to proceed.
 EUROPEAN DEATH TOLL
 One thing Joseph Stain point ed out to Roosevelt and Chur- chill that greatly impressed them ct Yalta was tsse terrific toll the Naxis had exacted from the peo' pie of Europe.
 4 preliminary investigation 0i what the Germans had done to Poland alone, 6talin said, dis closed that One-seventh of Po- lands population had been de- stroyed by the Nazis during their five year domination of that Russian neighbor.
 Stalln also pointed out that Hitler had won . tremendous victory over the Allies by per- manently frustrating the birth Of some lO,0oo, eco children in
 France, Italy, Poland and the other conquered countries through semi-staFvatiOn and by shippIng men to Germany as forced labor.
 Roosevelt seemed even more impressed than Churchill, since the British Prime Minister has