The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-25
Patterson's Ways
By ARTHUR KROCK

By ARTHUR KROCK
WASHINGTON-As a justice Of the highest
court, as a consultant On the many important
functions of government with which ne IS
familiar. possibly even as a Cabinet minister
again. Robert P. Patterson, the retiring Sec
retar. of War. may return to Washington.
But so far as can now be determined he
has gone back to private Life; and because
of qualities unusual in a public officer and
very great accomplishments, h departure
invites a brief memoir.
Presidential replies to letters Of resignation
are nearly always perfunctory. The fact that
MI. Trumanrs letter to Mr.. Patterson was
not can be explained by two circumstances
One IS that the Secretary's services could
not POSSIBLY be dismissed in that way by
anyone. The second is that nobody, from a
President down. can have a perfunctory rela-
~tiunsll.p with Mr.. Patterson. 1: may be deep
lv affectionate and appreclatlve, as IN this
instance, or hostile or critical But no rela'
tionship with the Secretary can be routine.
There could have been certain thoughts In
the Presidents mind as he acknowledged the
written resignation. He might have recalled
the early days of World War II when Mr..
Patterson was pressing for a civilian eco
nomy that alarmed all politicians by its
severity and persuaded all less concentrated
administrators that such a program would
defeat the common purpose-to win the war
in the field RAPIDLY. Mr.. Truman might have
remembered now, after he had decided to
appoint Mr.. Patterson to Justice Roberts
place on the Supreme Court and the com
mission had been made out, the Secretary
readily assented to the Presidents reques'
that he stay in the Cabinet because ne was
more needed there.
At any rate. the warm letter Mr.. Truman
wrote to the retiring minister expressed his
real sentiments, those of fellow-workers with
Mr. Patterson during his tenure here ana
the Of servers of the Secretary in action.
The word most used to describe that service
is "selfless." as the President also described
it, ard probably that comes nearer to the
truth in this instance than On most occasions
when it is employed. The Secretary SAID ana
did some things which laid him open to far
criticism as being contradictory OF his own
preachments, both in public and in private.
But In each case his intimates COMMENDED
that like Cromwell, to whom they compare
him, Mr.. Patterson sought the guidance o.
his conscience and of Providence and decided
that each action contributed to his passionate
objective-to win the war quickly, completely
and It the smallest possible cost in life and
the American system.
These debated actions included public en-
dorsements of President Rcosevelts candl-
dacy for a third and a fourth term. though
Mr. Patterson came here with his
publicans believing he would keep entirely
out of politics; extravagant compliments to
organized labor, though he was better aware
than most of the activities OF labor leaders
that deserved the attacks he made On other
group. Cor kindred ones; and a backdown
when challenged by the committee headed by
the tLen Senator from Missouri who, as Presi-
dent, made him Secretary Of War.
in I'll these there was room for criticism
of Mr.. Patterson. But the parallel with Crom-
well is not invisible, even to the Secretary's
critics. And there is no reasonable doubt that
he determined to do so many more others
for which he deserves abiding thanks and
praise because he felt devoutly they were
necessary ito get on with the war;"
The retreat from the Truman committee
happened in 1913. Mr.. Patterson, then Under
Secretary, was disturbed by it's inquiry into
deficiencies at the Lockland, Ohio, plant of
the Wright Aeronautical Corporation and said
so to many persons, with his usual vigor
of speech. He felt, and with good basis, that
the Senators were stirring up troubles In pro-
duction that were being remedied, and this
belief was reflected in newspaper articles
which were written after a diligent investi-
cation suggested by Mr.. Patterson himself.
These articles, however, aroused the COM
mittee chairman, Mr.. Truman, who announc-
ed a radio speech in rebuttal, to be delivered
Oct a at Shenandoah. Iowa. Copies of this
speech were supplied to the newspapers in
advance. But shortly before it was made a
new section was circulated. This was a state
ment from the Under-Secretary to the COM
mi+tee that the Army had confirmed the find
ings o. the committee, that it had performed
the most worthwhile services and that, with
the Army, the committee had brought about
essential corrections. Consequently, said Mr.
Truman in his speech, a public hearing Of
the Under-Secretary on the subject the follow
ing Wednesday would not be necessary"
Other members of the Government. and re-.
porters who also thought they knew Mr.. Pat
terson's fixed opinion, were greatly surprised
at the Interpolation. But from then on the
cooperation of the War Department and the
truman mmitt was fruitful of excellent
fesu1fs, and that is what Mr.. Patterson at
all tin es was seeking.
Lei Us portrait Eliminates Cromwe]ps
greatness the more wildly because the artist
|o'eyei the Protectors command to paint
my picture truly like me and not to ratter
me at all; otherwise l will never paw one
farming Tor it."-New York Times.
we are at the very beginning. If we want
TO ancGmn1jch oraot fb;~oo ---,