Evening star., 1946-10-14

ter qualified to mobilize industry
for war than this tall, handsome
and very astute citizen Of New York.
President Roosevelt had known Mr..
Baruch from World War !. But
there had been ininical influences
at work that were antagonistic to
Mr.. Baruch and did not want him
to have any real connection with
the Administration, although he and
the President had continued to be
warm personal friends.
When President Roosevelt set up
his first subject to change" war
organization, Mr.. Baruch was not
on 1t. BY that time the influence
of Harry L. Hopkins was very strong
at the White House. Several shifts
of the kaleidoscope produced differ
ent patterns of the war organiza-
ton but Mr.. Baruch, notwithstand-
ing the great contribution that he
could have made, still remained out
of official favor. 1t Is a bright light
on his character that this did not
embitter him in any degree.
Called in Rubber Crisis.
Then came the rubber crisis for
which Jesse Jones, then Secretary
OF Commerce, was responsible. The
country was seething with dissatis-
faction although the powerful Jesse
Jones was able to ward Oh criticism
of himself. In this crisis, the Presi-
dent turned to the one man In the
country who could extricate 1t from
this difficulty, quiet public clamor,
and restore confidence to the Con-
gress.
He made Bernard M. Baruch
chairman of a committee OF three
to chart the course Of the country
with respect to rubber. At once a
calm of confidence inspired by Mr..
Baruch's public services and his
known ability and integrity Of
character. came over the country.
The rubber crisis was at an end,
although we continued for o long
time to be handicapped seriously
by Jesse Jones gross mishandling
of the rubber program.
The public has little comprehen-
sion OF the value and extent OF Mr..
Baruch's performances as public
servant. He has maintained offices
in Washington, at personal cost
of many thousands Of dollars year.
He has built up competent STAN.
Fortunately. he did not have to go,
hat In .hand, to a grudging and
uninspired Congress for appropria-
tions for necessary expenditures. He
and all of his resources, which for
tunately have been considerable
have been at the call of his country.
OF my own knowledge, / know
how frequently Bernard Baruch was
called upon during the war to solve
knotty situations and to help men
high in the Government to smooth
out annoying difficulties He spent
most of his time in Washington, but
when he was not here men whose
names had become household words
did not hesitate to go to New York
to enlist his interest in some COM
plicated matter arising out OF the
war.
Foreign States Sought Aid.
His views even were sought eager
ly by representatives OF foreign
governments. Yet he never even
expected any public recognition Of
his outstanding services nor has he
had any. Others might hold high
sounding titles or listen to grandi-
loquent citations preliminary to the
comforting of another decoration.
Citizen Baruch has had none Of
these things nor has he coveted any
of them.
Now he is engaged in the greatest
task of all. Knowing that nothing
lis more important to the peace of
the world than a wise and just
solution of the problem Of atomic
energy, he is striving to reach an
accord with the other nations of
the world for the purpose Of divert
ing atomic energy from war to the
pursuits of peace.
No one is better qualified than he
is to represent America in this
greatest of international undertake
ings. Failure to accomplish this
most vital of assignments might
well mean the destruction of our
civilization. Believing as do in
the patience, sagacity and patriot
ism as well as in the overriding love
OF humanity that possesses Bernard
M. Baruch and has been his inspira-
tion for so many years, ] believe
that he should be given the neces-
sary elbow room to bring this nego-
Etiation to successful conclusion.