Evening star., 1949-11-20
Harris

Harris
Continued From Page C-1)
quired control of Tennessee tex
tile mill and stock interest in the
Los Angeles Rams, a professional
football team. The mill became a
financial headache and weighed
heavily on his mind, situation
considerably aggravated several
weeks ago when some stockhold-
ers filed suit for an accounting
For all these reasons, Mr.. Krug
intended, his friends say, to re-
sign before the end Of the year.
But the timetable was stepped
up as q result of the second major
factor-policy clashes with the
White House: Mr.. Krug backed
an Indian State-aid bill which the
President vetoed, since it was said
to be unfair to the Indians. He
clashed with Agriculture Secre-
tary Brannan over jurisdictional
authority in the building OF two
dams. In seeking additional funds
for the Bureau of Reclamation,
the Interior Department went
over the head of the Budget Bu-
reau to work directly with Con-
gressmen for it's financial ends.
President Truman, angry at last,
sent Mr.. Krug several stern let
tiers of official rebuke. In one let
ter. the President said Mr.. Krug's
circumvention of the Budget Bu-
reau had embarrassed" the ad-
ministration.
BY this time Mr.. Krug was un-
der mounting strain. When a re-
porter asked the President about
the slap-down letters at a news
conference November 10. Mr.. ,Tru-
man tersely replied: No comment
On being told of the Presidents
curt refusal to comment and OF
his manner. Mr.. Krug abruptly
announced his resignation. This
was the immediate surface cause
While Mr.. Chapman will not re-
place Mr.. Krug officially until the
end of this month, for all practi-
cal purposes he is already the
Secretary. With typical self
efacement. however. he is refrain
ing from talking like q Secretary
until he has the Office. His aides
point out that his views generally
are we'll known, and that he wants
to get adjusted to his new chair
before taking public positions on
subjects of a controversial nature
Some of His Views
He is. Of course. q liberal Demo-
crat, with enough elasticity to
work conscientiously for President
Truman's Fair Deal or to swing
back a trifle to more leftish New
Deal programs If the administra-
ton steers that way. He is deeply
interested in conservation Of natu-
raj resources. in reclamation and
in every clause Of progressive leg
islation. His concern with the
rights Of minorities, in the better
ment Of mankind. has never
waned. On the subject of public
power and regional river authori-
ties, he personally favors the crea-
ton Of q Missouri Valley Author
ity and Columbia Valley Authority
and supports public power lines
wherever private utilities refuse to
meet the need. Federal ownership
OF the oil-rich coastal belt has his
stanch support.
On the subject Of regional au-
thorities and loW-cost public
power, he told this reporter: Zone
Of the most important problems
which the Nation faces is the con-
.sideration of all Of our resources.
This means that this work must
be carried on in every region OF
the Nation.
I'm the West, the Department
Of the Interior is carrying for
ward vigorously. the Presidents
program for the construction Of
multiple-purpose projects. which
will result In the reclamation OF
vast areas Of land, and which will
provide low-cost power to farm
houses, industries and city dwell
ers.
Development of the West will
contribute to the prosperity and
well-being Of the entire country.
While we're concentrating our
energies in the West at present,
however. we fully realize that in
the East, particularly in New
England, there's a pressing need
for study leading to the develop
ment Of the East which could be
harnessed to provide low-cost
power and for the reclamation Of
lands now lying -fallow."
At So, the new Secretary still
likes to cook for guests. collect as
sorted paper weights and 60 to
movie thrillers. He is quick to
laugh or smile, has an easy, In
formal manner. In conversation
and gets along comfortably with
out ever drinking or smoking.
He lets his wife select his clothes
the former Ann Kendrick Of
Louisiana who was his secretary
for three years. Mr.. Chapman
grinningly says, when asked, that
his hobby is children" but he
will soberly admit a lurking am
bition-to buy, some day, the
Denver Rocky Mountain News,
mot to write, because don't write
well, but for the power 1t carries