Evening star., 1949-03-29
Johnson Should KeeI
Defense Department
Free From Politics
Fovoritism Could Harm
Nation in Awarding Of
Huge Arms Contracts
Bv David Laurence


It was fitting that Louis john
son should be sworn in as Secre-
tary of Defense with pomp and
ceremony. It would be even more
fitting if at the same time the
country could have gained wider
appreciation of the extent to
which the Defense Department is
responsible for their safety in an
atomic age.
Louis johnson is competent
: man. He knows military prob
lens. His background. to be sure.
has been one of political activity
as we'll as service in the War De-
partment.
What is important now is that
Louis Johnson, who knows politics
and raised what is estimated to
be 81, 100000 at a crucial moment
: In the last campaign to help elect
President Truman, should give the
Nation an example of how to take
the Defense Department out of
politics and keep it free from the
slightest suspicion that it is an
adjunct of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee or it's Finance
Committee.
With $4,000, 900, 900 to be spent
for the armed services, involving
contracts in which favoritism can
be exercised in behalf of those
who either have contributed to
campaigns or would make good
contributors in the future, it is
desirable that the Defense De-
partment set up unimpeachable
standards of conduct.
Congress Could Help.
Congress could help materially
. by writing into the pending ap-
propria ton laws certain provisions
making it a penal ofenS2 to clear
any appointments in the depart
ment itself or in the Army. Navy
or Air Force through any politi-
cal committee. It also could be
stipulated that nobody connected
with the department may serve
on any political committee or Or
ganization except as an individ-
ual member and not in any exec
utive or administrative capacity
Or participate in party activities
of councils.
Divorce between politics and de-
fense operations is essential II
confidence in the armed services
is to be maintained and if the
spending of large sums for arma-
ment is to be supported by both
political parties.
The presence of civilians in the
military establishment should be
carefully protected by statute.
Again and again the armed serv-
ices need the help of civilians as
advisers. but it would be a mistake
to allow them to exercise any
authority in the armed services
unless they are full-time employees
and have given UP all outside con-
nections.
= The President could help. too,
He could refrain from sending in
appointments that the country
recognizes Immediately as either
persona1 or partisan. The back
ground of the appointment OF
former Senator Wallgren to be
chairman of the all-important
National Security Resources
Board is such that Mr.. Truman
should not hesitate a moment to
withdraw it and make another.
Instead, it appears Mr.. Truman
has chosen to make a personal
issue of it and to emphasize once
more his complete disregard OF
the public interest when one OF
his cronies is involved.
Bound to Hurt Cause.
This is a tragic abuse of power
and one that Mr.. Truman may
not realize is bound to hurt the
cause of national defense, which
must at all times be kept above
politics or personal favorites.
Congress could help the cause
> even more by refraining from
: irving to exercise influence In the
matter of appointments In the
r armed services and IN the De-
. fense Department. The presence
of congressional pull is well
known. 1t has been applied again
and again because constituents
seem to think a Senator or Repre-
sentative can undo the rules IN
. the armed services and make ex-
ceptions. Officers in the armed
services resent and complain OF
: such attempts to influence them
: in the performance of their duties.
y Recent congressional investiga-
tions in the Bennett Meyers case
reveal these evils.
II If Secretary johnson were to
8 take an adamant position in BAN
G ming politics from his department.
;it would discourage members OF
Congress from seeking special
p privileges.
r Where the safety of the Nation
is concerned, the American people
do not want party politics to
: weaken confidence or impair eff
e cient administration. They want
the diplomacy of the United
: States handled by State De-
=, partment that is kept clean politi-
s cally, and they want the Defense
oDepartment uncontaminated also.
Party politics leads not merely to
corruption when public power is
abused but it can lead to the
: choice of incompetent men in
= high places. The key positions
Il should be free from any rela-
ri tionship to service in any party
IF the Democrats set the right
standard now, it will challenge the
Republicans to do likewise when
they come into power in Govern
, -ment.