Evening star., 1946-02-25
Withdrawal by PouIey
Discounted by Writer
Sees Action as Foolish in View
of Type of Attack
By David Laurence Q


By David Laurence
Can the Democratic members Of the
Senate really vote against the con-
flrrnation Of Edwin w. Pauley as Under
secretary of the Navy without embar-
rassment to their own party2 II they
reject the nomination, what will such
action mean-that because Mr. Pauley
was once in the oil business, he Is dis
qualified from holding an once that
relates only incidentally to oil? Or that
cannot be trusted? viii the Senate put
that stigma on Mr.. Pauley?
The former Secretary Of the Interior
had as his deputy throughout the war
In handling petroleum affairs q man
prominent in the oil business. So ap-
parently q previous or continuing rela-
tionship to the oil industry is not a
barrier to public Office Of itself.
What Is the other objection heard?
That Mr.. Pauley solicited campaign
contributions from executives Of oil
companies and wanted to get Washing
ton to act favorably toward them on
matters Of oil policy. Mr.. Pauley was
private citizen and was acting as
treasurer of the Democratic party.
Since when is 1t an offense inside the
Democratic party to solicit financial
help from corporations?
Certain Practices Barred.
1t is, of course. violation Of the
Federal Corrupt Practices Act to take
money from corporations for political
purposes, but it isn't violation to ac-
cept contributions from individuals con-
nected with corporations. Indeed, the
Democratic campaign management, un-
der the administration Of the late Pres
ident Roosevelt, solicited contributions
from corporations by the devious device
OF campaign book which Mr.. Roose-
welt himself autographed. None Of the
so-called Liberals or Radicals said a
word OF criticism Of this at the time.
Likewise, when Mr.. Roosevelt last
year In letter admitted that he had
before election promised Job to Henry
Misunderstanding the spirit, If not the
letter, OF the Federal Corrupt Practices
Act-the reformers who now show
righteous Indignation over the Pauley
nomination backed the confirmation Of
Mr.. Wallace wholeheartedly When q
labor union used its funds for political
purposes IN the 1914 campaign in vio-
lation Of the Federal Corrupt Practices
Act, the reformers took refuge In a
technicality which they must have
known would never save any bank or
corporation from prosecution.
Rejection Would Benefit COP.
The Republicans can be quite gleeful
over the situation. They will benefit far
more from a rejection of the Pauley
nomination than from the confirmation.
This Is because If Mr.. Pauley Is rejected
or forced to withdraw, 1t will mean that
the Senate Democrats are confessing
that the national treasurer of the DEM
ocratic party did something wrong and
also, by inference, that the methods
used by the New Deal in raising cam
paign funds In the past were wrong.
If, however, Mr.. Pauley Is confirmed
and arranges that all oil problems of
the Navy be handled entirely by Assis-
tant Secretary John L. Sullivan-who
really should have been named Under
Secretary by President Truman In the
first instance-what will the Republi-
cans be able to say In the campaign six
months hence to impugn the character
or integrity Of Mr.. Pauley?
The real question Is not whether Mr.,
Pauley Is qualified or disqualified be-
cause Of the innuendoes on his personal
integrity cast upon him by New Dealers
who have for years taken q sadstic de.
light IN practicing the art of innuendo
and character-assassination, but wheth.
er Mr.. Pauley will make a good Secre-
tary Of the Navy, and whether he is
committed in advance to a policy of
scuttling the Navy by means OF the
so-called merger with the Army. II the
latter Is the case, he ought not to be
confirmed. The Secretary Of the Navy
has far more to say about naval policy
as whole than about the handling Of
oil reserves.
Foolish to Withdraw.
Mr.. Pauley recently has held a posi-
tion OF trust in the Government. He
has handled reparations problems In
Germany and Japan. II the fact that he
was mixed up in party politics or that
he played politics when he was . pri-
vate citizen is an objection, then why
did the Senate last week, by overwhelm-
ing vote. confirm George Allen, direc-
tor Of an insurance company, to be-
come member Of the board Of the
RFC. which has so many dealings with
insurance companies to which the Goy-
ernment lends money?
1t must mean that the real and sole
issue is Mr.. Pauley's integrity and good
faith and on this he has not been tried
In the court of public opinion or in any
other court except by the art of in
nuendo and inference Secretary For
restal said he would give a man the
benefit of the doubt under such cir.
cumstances. That's what the Presi-
dent means, too. when he says he will
not withdraw the nomination. Mr..
Pauley would be foolish to ask for with
drawal under the kind of attack that
has been leveled against him.
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