Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-14
Truman Starts
.Par|eys on New
Inferior Chief
ConsuIts Western
Congress Members;
Field Wide Open

u
President Truman, casting
about for a new Secretary of the
Interior in the wake of the acri-
monious resignation of Harold l..
Ickes, today summoned Western
members of Congress to the
White House for a series of talks.
Reliable sources indicated the
Held was wide open, but it was con-
sldered unlikely that the President
would look either to the Senate or
to Western gubernatorial ranks
sources which had been considered
promising in early speculation-to
fill the post which the 71-year-old
Ickes vacated in a split with Mr..
Truman over the nomination of Ed
win w. Pauley to be Undersecretary
OF the Navy.
In administrative quarters, it was
said the President was well aware
that care must be exercised in filling
the post because of the political
issues raised by the break with Mr..
Ickes. 1t was believed Mr., Truman
would like to choose a man with a
New Deal background in view of Mr..
Ickes' long association with the late
President Roosevelt.
Chapman May Get Job.
Because of these two factors, some
observers believed that Assistant
Secretary OF the Interior Oscar L.
Chapman, who has been designated
as Acting Secretary, might get the
job. Supreme Court Justice William
o. Douglas was considered another
possibility. although he halls from
Washington State, which already
has one cabinet representative in
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach.
Mr.. Truman discussed the problem
this morning with Senators Hatch.
Democrat, of New Mexico, and
O'Mahoney, Democrat, of Wyoming.
Senator Hatch said they had talked
over several names and that while
he urged the President to appoint
Westerner he did not suggest
any one.
House Speaker Rayburn and Sen.
ators Wheeler of Montana, Thomas
and Murdoch of Utah, all Demo-
Gratis, were among other lawmakers
called for conferences with the Chief
Executive.
No Press Conference Today.
White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross reported that the
President would not hold a news
conference which had been set
tentatively for today, but probably
would meet newsmen at 4 pm. to-
morrow.
The explosive exit of Mr.. Ickes
showed Mr.. Truman on a tough DO
litical spot.
In abrupt language, the Interior
secretary declared the Presidents
cabinet was one in which he could
no longer serve and retain my self
respect"
In even blunter fashion, Mr.. Ickes
called on the Justice Department to
investigate the truth of testimony
which Mr.. Pauley has given in SEN
ate hearings on his qualifications.
Mr.. Ickes categorically charged that
Mr.. Pauley made statements under
oath which were not true.
Problems for Mr.. Truman.
Besides the task of naming a Sue
cessor. the slam-bang leaye-takine
OF the man who has directed the In
terror Department since 1888 posed
these other problems for Mr.. Tru-
man:
l. He faces the job of repairing
Whatever damage has been done in
party ranks. Congressional elections
come up this fall, with a president
tial contest ahead in 1948-and Mr..
lckes long has had a substantial
Following in the New Deal wing of
the party.
q He must decide whether to
press for Mr.. Pauley's confirmation
TO the Navy post, despite the fresh
handicaps posed by Mr.. Ickes' Bit
ter attack.
8: He has to neutralize the polit-
lcal dynamite which Mr.. Ickes Gre
ated IN a post-resignation statement
that he did not care to continue in
an administration where I'm ey-
pected to commit perjury for the
sake Of party"
May Have More to Say.
The end may not be vet. Mr.
lckes indicated he may have more
TO say about his charges that Mr..
Pauley, California oil man, sup-
gested to him in 1874 that $500. 600
could be raised from interested oil
men for the Democratic campaign
fund if the Government did not
push its suit to establish Federal
title to off-shore oil lands. It was
President Truman's comment that
Mr.. Ickes could have been mistaken
IN this testimony that brought the
resignation.
Congressional reaction to the cab
met officers departure from the
Government was mixed. A number
OF Southern Democrats applauded
his exit, while Westerners had praise
for the way he administered his de-
partment. Some Democrats. too.
said they thought Mr.. Truman
should pick good man as Mr.. Ickes'
successor-and quickly.
It was generally agreed that the
Capital has seldom seen such a
1Sae TTYFC Dooo