Show Round Merry-Go-Round By Drew Pearson and Robert S S. S Allen WASHINGTON When WASHINGTON When the long range history history history his his- tory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt is written he will be proved right on his vision his advance war plans and his military strategy But his greatest failing as an executive will be shown to be too much of the milk o 0 human kindness The trouble with Roosevelt is that he hates to fire anyone especially anyone especially one who has been with him a long time and for whom he has personal affection And if there is one great trouble with our national defense today it is that Roosevelt permitted permitted permitted per per- a kindly old gentleman Claude Swanson to remain in the office of secretary of the navy until he died at the age of 78 and that he permitted permitted permitted per per- the war department to be bogged down by a midwest isolationist Harry Woodring who did not believe in a strong military ry machine Roosevelt of course kept his eye on the navy But the army he allowed to be pulled to pieces in a cat and dog fight between Assistant Secretary Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary of War Var Louis Johnson who believed in strong defense and Secretary of War Woodring who didn't all didn't-all all because he was not enough to choose between them Fight Over Bombers To illustrate what this situation meant to present day defense Assistant Secretary Johnson Johnson Johnson John John- son in 1940 recommended a long range bomber program costing Long range bombers are the weapons for which we have the most urgent need today In 1940 however Secretary of War Woodring flatly opposed Johnsons Johnson's bomber program In fact he opposed it so vigorously that the two men staged a heated personal row in front of the president Finally the president asked Secretary of the Treasury to act as arbiter At times Woodring and Johnson with offices down different directions of the war department corridor were scarcely on speaking terms Yet Roosevelt would not Intervene It was not until the summer of 1940 that the president finally got tough and appointed a new secretary of war Henry L. L Stimson Stimson Housecleans Mr Stimson already had carved out a unique place in American history He was secretary of war in the Taft cabinet governor general of the Philippines under Coolidge and secretary of state under Hoover In the latter position he did more than any other man alive or dead to block the Japanese in China He was the only statesman who clearly saw the rampage of conquest on which Japan was bent and did his best to stop it and it-and and at that time it could have been stopped if Stimson had had the fullest cooperation from every quarter Today as secretary of war Stimson has done donea a far better Job than most people give him credit for He was the man who urged the draft act acton acton acton on Roosevelt even though it came in the middie middle middle mid mid- dle die of a presidential campaign He also has had the wisdom to appoint young A 1 executives and to give them full scope Under him the army anny which was in the doldrums two years ago has come forward by leaps and bounds Stimson Can Take It Several times Mr Stimson has indicated to the president it might be best for him to step out in favor of a younger man He was a little reluctant to take the appointment when it was offered to him in th the first place But the president president president dent insisted and Stimson until the end will be bea a good soldier But much as his wholesome influence will be missed in Washington we wo think Mr Stimson will increase his already great stature if he paves the way for other badly needed cabinet departures depart depart- ures and insists that the president accept his res res- ignation |