The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-02-13
Pouley and Allen

1t seems to me that the fuss that
Is being made over Messrs. Pauley
and Allen Is much beside the point.
The fuss ought TO be directed at
Q fundamental weakness in our po-
litical system. namely, that the
top administrators of government
are by law and procedure irrespon-
sible. Only the President is real.
ly responsible. We have SO concen-
trated responsibility In the hands
OF the President that except In war,
the really competent and fine men
OF this country avoid public office.
In a recent press conference, the
President explained to enquiring
newspaper men that there can be
no conflict OF view between the
President and the State Depart
ment because II is the President
and not the State Department that
fixes policy. He seemed to have
to repeat that because Americans,
no longer studying ciyics. do not
precisely know how the American
system of government functions.
The Secretary OF State bears no
responsibility except to the pres
ident. The President alone is re.
sponsible.
The objection TO Mr.. Pauley Is
that his engagements In party poll
tics and private business were nor
NAL but unwholesome. In a word,
as treasurer OF the Democratic Ma.
tional Committee. he raised funds
for Franklin ID. Roosevelt, the way
funds were raised for Franklin ID.
Roosevelt or most other candidates
II Pauley misbehaved, Roosevelt
misbehaved. Roosevelt was the
principal, Pauley the agent. You
can bet your bottom dollar that at
no time did Pauley make a commit.
ment which Roosevelt knew no
thing about. Things are not done
that way.
Harold Ickes now tells on Pauley.
Why did not honest Harold tell
on PAuley when the collector first
told him about how the money
could be raised? Why II honest
Harold was SO incensed at the time
was he so silent at the timer Was
It not an ordeal for Ickes to be
silent? The point is that as long
as Ickes wanted to remain In Roose.
velt's cabinet. he had to be silent
about the collections for Roose.
velt's campaign funds. Ickes is
not In the cabinet by the will OF
the people but by permission of the
President. That is the American
system and makes for irresponsi-
bility, also for lack OF courage, lack
OF manliness and lack OF truthful
ness.
A cabinet officer or the head OF
great independent" agency OF
government is a servant. not OF
the people, but of the President.
And even II he is appointed for a
prolonged period, an adroit and
popular President can edge him out
by pin.pricks, weddings, reorgani-
nations OF departments and mum.
erous other devices.
In the case OF George Allen. there
can be no reason why he should
be appointed to the RFC. He has
neither the training, the expert.
ence, nor the background to handle
the worlds largest and most pot
ent bank. But neither has Henry
Wallace the experience. training
nor capacity to handle the Depart
ment Of Commerce that has to do
with trade and commerce and bust
ness generally under the American
capitalist system. which is repug-
nant to him. Nor does Chester
Bowles, q Is per cent advertising
man, fit the position OF head Of
OPA which requires an under
standing of the economic process
In production and distributions
subject concerning which he had
tahlished no reDutatiOn whatso-