Evening star., 1945-04-02
Byrnes Resigns Post;
Vinson Is Appointed
War MobiIizer
Continued From First Page. }


Difference to the Presidents wishes"
Mr.. Byrnes retires to private life
after 80 years on the Washington
scene-26 In Congress and two on
the Supreme Court and another
wartime assignment antedating his
to head the crganiza-
tion directing the war effort on the
home front.
He was in the House for IA years
and in the Senate for IL, and while
on Capitol Hill was recognized as
President Roosevelt's foremost
"troubleshooter"-a role he has
continued to fill to some degree
since leaving the legislative branch.
Wrote Important Opinions.
He was appointed to the Supreme
Court on June IL, 194l, to succeed
Justice James Clark McReynolds
and in a year on the bench, wrote a
number of important opinions.
Usually he was with the majority
particularly If the minority hap
pened to be the ultraliberals of the
tribunal.
Justice Byrnes was shifted from
the court in October, 1912, when he
was named the first director of Eco
nomic Sterilization, and held that
place until the following spring
when he assumed the bigger home
front job Then Justice Vinson, who
once more succeeds him, was taken
from the Court of Appeals to be
Economic Sterilization director.
Visited Western Front.
Mr.. Byrnes had announced last
June, while Congress was toiling
over the bill to expand the Once
of War Mobilization into the Office
of War Mobilization and Recon-
version, that he did not wish to re-
main on to administer the recon-
version program.
Then in November, he told the
President he did not desire to re-
tain his position, but after a trip
to the western front, he agreed to
continue until victory is won in Eu-
rope.
His resignation was submitted the
day Allied armies crossed the Rhine
in force. Expressing belief that the
end was near, Mr. Byrnes said:
MY knowledge Of the nature of
the work now confronting the office
causes me to conclude I should not
remain longer.
The Office has already embarked
upon the development of program
of reconversion. I have organized
committees composed of representa-
tives of the various agencies which
have been at work for some time
developing the program.
Il am convinced that the per-
son who is to direct the reconver-
sion program should take charge OF
this Office now He would then have
an opportunity to familiarize him
self with the plans We have. made
and can modify in such manner as
he deems wise the plans he will be
called upon to administer"
President Praises Work.
Mr.. Roosevelt praised Mr.. Byrnes
work in his acceptance letter and
said he would like to think he coulo
avail himself of the directors wis
dom, knowledge and understanding
If the need should arise in the flu
ture.
1T is not pleasant" the Chic
Executive wrote, ito contemplate
the severance of relationship
which has been as delightful to mt
personally as it has been Of ad'
vantage to the national interest
which you have served with sucf
singular devotion and fidelity.
II shall always remember the
many burdens which you have
taken from my shoulders. The Ma.
ton has been fortunate in these
times of stress and strain that We
could fall back on the counsel yol
were able to give us out of an ex-
perience gained in the discharge
of so many positions of the highest
trust and responsibility.
LAS legislator, as jurist sitting or
the highest court in the land, and
as man of affairs. you had long
preparation for the service which
you have given your country In
these war years"
With reference to Mr.. Roosevelt s
assertion that he would like to be
able to call on Mr.. Byrnes in the
future, if need be, the South Caro-
linian authorized this statement:
ssrrl,o,,rt GOULD not coo v,ou uyox,
clear to accept the detailed task of
reconversion for the period I know
it will take. it does not lessen in any
way my intense interest in the
prosecution of the war and the
making of an enduring peace. ]
hope I can make some contribution
as private citizen
Byrnes Has No Plans.
There had been reports at one
time that Mr.. Byrnes would 60 into
private law practice, but Walter
Brown, one of his assistants, said
he had no plans at all. Mr.. Byrnes
was irritated last fall, he said, by
reports he would form a Million
dollar law firm.
Mr. Vinson was nominated for the
post of Federal Loan
Administrator last month, when
Congress took the Government lend
ing agencies away from the Com
merce Department after Secretary
of Commerce Jones had been ousted
by President Roosevelt to make a
place for former Vice President
Wallace.
A Kentuckian. Judge VinSon
served seven terms in the House be-
fore his appointment to the bench
in 1888. He is Sc, and while acting
as director of Economic Stabiliza-
ton was subjected to sharp criti-
cism from labor for insisting on
rigorous wage controls.