Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-02-09
Key Personnel
Said To Have
Formed Clique
Rep. Rankin, OF
Mississippi,
Supports Foes
BY JAMES l.. HICKS
NNPA Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, d. C.,-The de-
mand made by John STEELE, national
commander Of the American Le-
gion, for a congressional investiga-
ton of the Veterans Administra-
ton and the removal of General
Omar N. Bradley, its head, was in
line with the NNPA prediction that
both General Bradley and Major
General Paul r. Hawley, acting
surgeon general, may be removed
from their top spots in the VA.
General Bradley's basic Difficult
ties are believed to be due to the
fact that most key personnel in
the VA have held their jobs nearly
ever since the agency was first
established and now form a clique
which is opposed to liberalization
of VA policy.
Hines Clique
AS chairman Of the House World
War Veterans Legislation Com
mittee, Representative John E.
Rankin, Democrat, Of Mississippi,
leader of the "white trash bloc" in
the House, is supporting key per-
sonnet, which may be properly des-
cribed as Hines clique"
Since General Bradley has been
the administrator, Rankin has sup
ported him. But General Bradley
has not been able to get the Hines
clique to carry out his orders for
liberalization of VA policy, especi-
ally insofar as Indignation of color
ed veterans and colored personnel
in veterans facilities is concerned.
In demanding congressional
investigation and removal of Gen
eral Bradley, Mr.. STEELE charged
him with failing to utilize all
available hospital beds for veterans
in need of disqualification and of
permitting a tragic breakdown"
in the processing of veterans
claims and in answering mail.
No Politics Play
AS was pointed out by the NNPA
some of General Bradley's Difficult
ties stem from his and General
Hawley's refusal to play politics
with members of Congress in To-
eating hospitals as well as their
efforts to liberalize VA policy, par
ticularly to provide for the integra-
alton of colored veterans in vet
el ans facilities and the hiring of
personnel without regard to race
or religion.
1t is not generally known, but
when General Bradley took over
the Veterans Administration he
had been advised and had consent
ed to appoint a colored man on
policy making level as his assis-
tant executive. Even less known is
the fact that General Bradley has
offered the job at least to one color
ed man.
This man is reported to have
turned down the job until the VA
had changed its policy Of follow
ing local community patterns of
race segregation in the south.
Official Survey
The NNPA News Service last
December sent out the contents of
an official survey made by the VA
Of the ninety-seven veterans hos
pitfalls located throughout the coun-
try.
OF the ninety-seven hospitals, the
survey showed, seventeen did not
admit colored veterans at all and
twenty-four of the remaining
eighty placed them on segregated
wards.
The survey also contained
statement of VA policy 10 the effect
that the agency would follow local
community patterns respecting
race segregation.
This survey was prepared for
VA staff personnel by a Virginia
born assistant director of the VA
public relations staff. It was not
for publication, but a
copy of it was obtained by the
NNpA