Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-09

OnAALEO Z. WALSON
Tenure Sets Record
draft-dodgers during the Ko-
rean war.
Mr.. Eisenhower later called
the remark "unwise. Mrs. VIII
son promptly chided Mr.. Eisen-
hover. saying the slap at her
husband was "uncalled for
During the storm of COM
ment Mr.. Wilson, who had been
called to the White House,
made this statement to re-
porters, who asked him what
he had discussed with the
President:
This is not my dunghill.
Anything to be announced,
somebody else ought to an
nounce.
A month later, addressing a
Guard group, Mr.. Wilson stuck
to his guns in arguing for a
Six-monthS' training program
for Guard recruits. but said he
was highly apologize" for his
earlier draft lodging remark.
Bird Dog Remark Stirred Row
The statement that got him
IN the hottest water was made
Oct. IL. 1854, in the congress
Sional election campaign. Dis
cuSsing unemployment with
newSmen in DETROIT, Mr.. Wilson
talked about people who have
sumption" enough to go out
and find work, then added:
1--WE got a lot Of sympathy
for people where a sudden
change catches them. But I've
always liked bird dogs better
than kennel-fed dogs myself
you know. one that will get out
and hunt for his food rather
than sit on his fanny and yell"
Legislators and labor leaders
Numbered a barrage Of criti.
ciSm at him for this one. The
Cabinet officer later said he in
tended no slur against the job.
less and no "invidious compari.
sons, nor insinuations likening
people to dogs in any sense"
Then there was that word
"phony" which he used during
a news conference last year
after the Senate had voted to
increase Air Force funds nearly
a billion dollars over the
amount Mr.. Wilson had asked.
Declined to Retreat
II think that's q phony," he
told questioning newSmen.
Asked to explain, he said some
people want a strong defense,
but don't want to 60 along with
high taxes to pay the cost. Mr..
Wilson sought to explain later.
after some Democrats called for
his custer. that he had not de
rected his "phony" reference
toward the lawmakers.
He was an outstanding ex-
ample Of the application Of the
conflict Of interest" laws which
Mr.. Eisenhower recently said
perhaps should be reviewed to
allow more successful business
men to enter Government serv-
ice.
Under inSiStence of some
Senators considering his NOM
ination at the start Of the
Eisenhower first term, Mr.. VIII
sor disposed of an estimated
SIS million worth of General
Motors stock and paid a huge
tax on the sale. He already had
resigned the corporation presi-
dency. which paid him $780,
200 in salary and bonuses in
1852, to take the Cabinet job
then paying $22,500. It now
pays $4,000.
Mr.. Wilson was reluctant to
give up his huge holdings. But
Senators argued that to hold
on to them would violate con-
fiict of interest laws designed
to prevent government ofi1cials
from deciding on contracts with
private firms in which they are
directly or indirectly interested
in the pecuniary profits"
Travelled Widely
The retiring cabinet officer,
last of the original Eisenhower
cabinet to be confirmed, went
to work zestfully from the start.
He put in 10 or IL hours a day
at the Pentagon. He made long
overseas trips that took him by
air to such places as the Far
East. Europe, the Arctic and the
Bikini nuclear weapons proving
grounds in the Pacific.
In recent months he has been
devoting much time to defend
ing his departments spending
budget. He said a good part"
or the increase over last year
was due to imitation and he
was against any meat axe"
cuts However, Congress did not
give the department all 1t asked
AS for those who have worked
him over for what have been
called "inept" remarks, Mr.. Will
son said recently he has "felt
more complimented than Of
Tended"
Its mostly my fault" he
told a group Of cartoonists. u
stick my neck out"