| Show Round Merry B By B Drew Pearson and Robert S. S Allen WASHINGTON The The capital of the United States has seen all sorts of lobbies come and go but few that have had such a mushroom growth and such wide ramifications as the America America America Amer Amer- ica First committee In recent weeks weeks' this organization has not been much publicized publicized-as as as such Its sympathizers ers have taken responsibility for their own statements But it would be a mistake to assume assume assume as as- sume that the America First committee is not active Few of the senators whom it seeks to influence influence influence ence realize it but copies o of America First correspondence correspondence correspondence cor cor- which have come to the attention of some legislators show that in a few short weeks the committee has built up an or organization aniza- aniza tion which extends its influence to numerous radio stations preachers and antiwar groups and has its own confidential observers in the capitol Leading members of the committee are Alice Roosevelt Longworth Mrs Burton K Wheeler Hanford Coolidge's assistant secretary of war William R. R Castle Castl Hoovers Hoover's undersecretary undersecretary undersecretary under under- secretary of state Mrs tirs Bennett Champ Clark General Hugh S S. S Johnson Irvin S. S Cobb and General Robert E. E Wood who is head of the organization However they appear willing to remain in the background In fact that is one of the main features of the lobbying methods of the America First com corn committee it it does not reveal all aU of its flung far-flung activities activities ac ac- activities ac- ac to the public Thus Lee Williams a member of the com corn committees committee's staff sent out to radio station t mana managers ers various transcriptions of speeches by Senator Nye Senator Wheeler Governor ex-Governor AU Alf M. M Landon Landon Landon Lan- Lan don and other isolationists But in sending the records for rebroadcast Williams cautioned eau cau eau eau- These recordings do not mention the name of the America First committee They are simple simple simpie sim sim- pie messages from the speakers speakers' to the people The sole fun function tion of the committee is to co cooperate cooperate cooperate co- co operate operate- with these speakers in the distribution of the recordings Message to Preachers This same desire to keep the committee in inthe inthe inthe the background was apparent nt in an inner office memorandum of February 3 signed R D D. S. S Jr presumably R. R Douglas Stuart Jr director director di die rector of the c committee and sent to members of the staff It read With reference to the memo written by Mr Bliss on January 29 some of the better antiwar groups I want you to understand this this' information is strictly This information should go no further than this office Other c correspondence revealed an indirect move to propagandize some of the ministers of the country who night might oppose the lends lend lease bill For on January 29 29 General Wood sent a letter to George W. W Robnett Robnett secretary of the Church League of America Chicago which said Your letter of January 28 has just been re re- re I 1 am delighted that you have the same view of bill No 1776 that our America First committee has and I think the idea that the statement should be placed in the hands of every minister is a sound one In In- closed herewith is my personal check as as a small contribution toward this work On the same day General Wood also sent an office memo to R. R Douglas Stuart Jr in which he said Dear Bobby I am inclosing a letter addressed addressed addressed ad ad- dressed to me by the Church L League ague of Amer Amer- ica lea I wish you would get in touch with this Mr Robnett right away I 1 think we ought to urge them to get this statement statementS out to their minis ministers ers as quickly as possible even if we have to help them Three e davs days later on February 1 Mr Stuart wrote as follows to Mr Robnett I am pleased to a check for to tobe tobe tobe be used toward completing tin ting your mailing to to the ministers throughout the United States This mailing is to be the one calling attention to the dangers involved in H. H R. R 1776 I will be very interested in hearing from you you as to how this thi mailing progresses with further details of exact exact ex ex- ex- ex act act cost cost of your operation Speed is essentIal essen essen- Senator George Softening The committee also has maintained a confidential confidential observer in Washington who has written some rather int interesting resting memos regarding the views of various senators In one memo marked Confidential From Observer Washington I and signed P T. T 1 0 O. it is reported Senator George previously deemed impartial impartial seems to have shifted his stand This shift appeared yesterday after alter Lord Halifax paid him hima a surprise visit to talk taik about how fast action may be expected from the senate on the bill Senator George after the conference with Halifax Hali Hall fax announced that speed on the bill w would uld continue and that the committee would sit longer hours' hours next week All in all it is considered considered considered con con- that George is being softened up by bythe bythe bythe the administration probably by his old friend Secretary Hull Incidentally the visit of Halifax to the Hill reveals an important change in the attitude of press and public A year ago any such action by bya a foreign l ambassador including the ambassador ambassador ambassador dor of Great Britain would have elicited strong expressions of resentment No such expressions are visible in today's press Another confidential memo by the America First Observer and dated January 30 reported sharp di disagreement between Senator Taft on the on nn side ide and President ex-President Hoover Senator Senator Senator Sen Sen- Sen- Sen ator McNary on the other McNary and prefer that the fi fight ht be carried on on-by on by means of or ofa ora a series of amendments rather than by bv one amendment as Senator Taft has proposed Distributed by United Feature Syndicate |
