Evening star., 1946-12-07
Veteran Groups
Split on Truman
Housing Policy
Wyatt Departure Seen
By 3 as Housing Blow;
Legion O. K. Is Likely

Housing Expediter Wilson w.
Wyatt's resignation left the Nations
veterans organizations split today
over President Truman's action
leading to the housing chiefs de-
cision to leave the Government.
Mr.. Wyatt, former Louisville May
or, resigned Thursday after the
President had failed to continue his
support of the emergency" phases
of the veterans housing program,
including RFC loans to star: mass
production of prefabricated homes
and unrelaxed controls.
Spokesman for three Of the five
major veterans groups deplored Mr..
Wyatt's resignation, and saw in it
a blow to production Of needed
homes. Those organizations were
the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
American Veterans of World War
II and the American Veterans
Committee.
Legion Statement Due.
The American Legion, whose posi-
ton was to be the subject of state
ment later today, was not expected
to line up on the side of Mr.. Wyatt
and his program.
In a recent report, the Legion's
Housing Committee recommended
that the Government abolish the
Office of national housing expediter
and also liquidate the National
Housing Agency.
Mr.. Wyatt was both housing expe-
diter and MIA administrator.
The Disabled American Veterans
have made no statement on Mr..
Wyatt's resignation and probably
will not make any. A spokesman
said DAV has played no active part
in the housing controversy.
VFW Needles Allen.
According to an MIA spokesman,
about 300 kilograms and an un-
counted number of letters support
ing Mr.. Wyatt's stand have been
either received directly by the
agency or referred to it by the
White House.
Louis E. Starr, national COM
mander of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, wrote George E. Allen, chair
man of the Reconstruction Finance
Corp, to learn if Mr.. Allen has
substitute" for the Wyatt plan.
Previously the RFC had refused to
grant certain loans to prefabricated
home manufacturers sought by Mr..
Wyatt.
Ray Sawyer, national commander
Of the American Veterans Of World
War II, said the administration had
failed to support its own housing
program and that members of his
organization deplored the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Wyatt.
Chance for Shelter Lost.
Charles Bolte, chairman of the
American Veterans Committee, said
that as result Of Mr.. Wyattis
resignation, veterans needing homes
had 'lost their best chance to find
decent shelter this winter"
Mr.. Starr said the emergency
housing program had been "scuttled
just as it showed indications Of
success"
LII LID kCtbCI W NIL. hilCils NIL
Starr asserted Mr.. Wyatt obviously
made every effort to complete his
program" but that "lack of CO.
operation in certain places has ef-
fectively hindered the plan"
"The Veterans of Foreign Wars
would like to know the details of any
substitute plan for the Wyatt pro-
gram.
I'VE assume that since the RFC
has refused to grant loans, admit
tedly emergency in nature, for pro-
duction of emergency low-cost hous-
ing, that you must have a compro-
mise plan in mind in which we could
be assured that this most important
phase of the general housing pro-
gram would not be omitted"
Mr.. Allen, who was reported to be
out of town, could not be reached
for comment.