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Show NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS X Written for The Teleejrem By Ray Tucker -I WASHINGTON Politicians who know the real story of the Roosevelt - McNutt relationship are beginning to wonder low long the handsome Hooslerite can stand up under the savage punches thrown at him from all official angles. They are asking. ask-ing. In short, when he will resign as social security administrator. T. D. R.'s handling of the bill reimbursing Ohio for withheld social ' security payments would have been a knockout blow to an ordinary man. Mr. McNutt, without consulting the White House, sent word to capitol hill that the social security administration adminis-tration favored the legislation. Besides aiding In Its passage, this action set the stage for whatever what-ever political embarrassment the president may suffer as a result ot his veto. Then Paul argued eloquently for presidential approval. ap-proval. "The old people of Ohio." he said, "should not be penalized for the actions of one man (ex-Governor (ex-Governor Martin Dacey)." Few days later Social Security Director Arthur Altmeyer, whom Mr. McNutt would Ilk to fire, said to Mr. Roosevelt: "I don't know how you feel about this bill, but I want to correct th Impression that our administration administra-tion favors It. And it you plan to veto it, perhaps I can help you." Th president threw back his head and laughed: "Arthur, this Is one time you can help me and help me a lot. You are going go-ing to writ th veto and mak It strong!" Then the disapproving disapprov-ing message was delivered to congress without any notice from th Whit House to th social security boss! Th administration hatchet men's hacking at Candidate McNutt Mc-Nutt represents th high In Machiavellian politics. He was warned when he accepted his present post that he was placing his handsome political head In an angry lion's mouth, but h scoffed at such suggestions. He insisted he had an agreement .with F. D. R. under which he could openly seek the presidential presiden-tial nomination. His friends now realize that he made himself peculiarly vulnerable vulnera-ble by entering the Roosevelt family. Had he remained a political po-litical freelancer the people would have dismissed the thrusts at him federal Income tax agents' Investigation of his henchmen's returns, Harold Ickes' numerous barbs, F. D. R.'s assertion that he had not given him the "green light" as the natural retaliation of Roosevelt Roose-velt ian soreheads. Mr. McNutt might have assumed th pose of a wounded martyr and won sympathy. sym-pathy. But this deliberate and persistent disparagement of him by fellow officials by members of the same family demon strates that he Is distinctly out of favor, politically, with th president. Exile in the Philippines the McNutts now realize would not have been half so damaging to his political fortunes as his present pres-ent Internment. Paul Is a resourceful re-sourceful individual and an attractive at-tractive personality, but It is ' Washington's Judgment that he is washed up for 1940 at least For the second consecutive time congress will probably disregard dis-regard the constitutional mandate man-date requiring reapportionment of its 435 districts every 10 years. The reasons for this repeated defiance the first happened after the 1920 census are personal, per-sonal, selfish and political. The 1929 reapportionment law was designed to make redisricting redisrict-ing automatic. But for technical techni-cal difficulties arising from pas-sag pas-sag ef th Norris "lame duck" amendment new legislation has become necessary to permit reapportionment re-apportionment after the counting count-ing of noses to begin In April. The senate passed the new bill last year, but it has been killed, at least temporarily, In the house census committee. It has been tabled by the votes of several men from states which would enjoy an enlarged membership under any rearrangement of th system of representation. Th committee Is still engaged in a bitter backstage row. The redisricting, however, would obviously alter congressional congres-sional areas now seemingly sur of returning majorities for sitting sit-ting members. It might transfer a solid Republican section from one district to another, thereby there-by Imperiling the G. O. P. Incumbent, Incum-bent, or It might shove a Democratic Demo-cratic member's faithful supporters support-ers beyond his reach. Therefore the boys are taking no chances. Incidentally, population trends Indicate the reapportionment would mean additional seats for Massachusetts, New York, New Jtrsey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Virglnis, North Carolina, Florida, Flor-ida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Okla-homa, Alhbama, Arkansas, Texas and California. President Roosevelt has Intimated Inti-mated in private conversations that hs may stage a sensational third term aurprise when he thinks the time is opportune. Circumstance political, economic. eco-nomic. International will Influence Influ-ence his final decision, perhaps prevent him from executing th plan he hints at, but he is giving giv-ing it serious consideration. It would amount to an official convention of all th serious candidates can-didates for the Democratic nomination nom-ination at th Whit House. Mr. Roosevelt, it is understood, will call in the crowd new dealers and old dealers and first announce an-nounce that he does not Intend to run or accept rendminatlon. Then he would impress upon them his desire for a Democratic triumph next tall, and the need for maintenance of party harmony. har-mony. He would name or play no favorite though he haa 'emend 'em-end urge that they conduct their various campaigns with a minimum mini-mum of personal or political conflict con-flict F. D. It's already announced preference for uninstructed delegations dele-gations to the convention ties in with this scheme. Under this arrangement the race would start in a front room in the White House and wind up In a back room at the convention, with the candidates and their managers picking a nominee in an atmosphere of amicability. Add T. D. R. would, in advance ot retirement assume the cherished cher-ished role of elder statesman. Copyright 1940, McClure Syndicate. |