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Show NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS By Ray Tucker Telegram's Washington Columnist men and cabinet members. For a while the president laughed off or didn't hear their complaints com-plaints against the Irrepressible one. But Tommle made the ultimate ulti-mate mistake of tangling in the hair of Harry Hopkins, Mr. Rooeevelt'a closest confident. What to do with Frances Perkins Per-kins is the most important tidbit tid-bit of 1941 business before the White House. The president barely conceals his desire to straighten out labor's la-bor's family trouble by removing her from the department of labor. la-bor. Mrs. Roosevelt is backing Secretary Sec-retary Perkins for the post of social security admin let rat or In the event Paul V. McNutt goes to Mexico City. Meanwhile, another complication complica-tion haa arisen. There is quiet talk of elevating Mr. McNutt'a post to cabinet rank. It rates it, for he has far more responsibilities responsi-bilities than numerous heads of department. He runs social security, se-curity, public health, education, educa-tion, the national youth administration adminis-tration and thiCCC Copyright 1941 McClurc Syndicate WASHINGTON The national defense commission's first production pro-duction report discloses between the lines that America's rearming rearm-ing problem Is far more "urgent" "ur-gent" also 'terrible" than ITesldent Roosevelt or William B. Knudsen have let on In the past. The figures 700 planes, 100 tanks, 10,000 Garend rifles a month appear impressive until measured against Anglo-American needs. President Roosevelt has set 50,000 planes as the objective output for both nations, with a minimum of 16.000 for ourselves. At the rate of 700 a month, it will require almost six years to turn them out. Even if production produc-tion is tripled late next year a bare poKslblllty two years will elapse before that aerial goal is attained. On the basis of 2400 airplane engines a month now, as against commitments of 130,-000, 130,-000, it will take almost four and a half years. Quadrupling capacity capac-ity will still mean more than a year's de-lay. Figuring on the same basis, manufacture of 10,-000 10,-000 semi-automatic rifles a month means that it will be about three years before the 400,000 necessary for a minimum army of 1.400.000 are on hnnd for far short of her needs in the . forthcoming blitr.Rrieg. Therefore, There-fore, Britain must prove herself able to hold out for at least another an-other twelvemonth on her own. It must also be kept In mind that President Roosevelt has promised prom-ised to make the United States an "arsenal of democracy" for Greece and China and possibly the free French forces. That will cut down the supply of hew weapons for the British and ourselves. our-selves. Some observers doubt whether England can stand up under another year of submarine and airplane battering. Her morale may it is unbelievably high but her transportation and production pro-duction systems may be smashed heifore Uncle Sam ran awing his Sunday punch. Urwrer such circumstances cir-cumstances the United States nay have to enter the war open-ty, open-ty, or it will Inherit a secondhand second-hand conflict. , Ed Flynn has shown a surprising surpris-ing eagerness to hold on to the chairmanship of the Democratic national committee. Whereas it had been expected that he would quit after Inauguration, he has told friends that he Intends In-tends to remain active in na- training and reserve. There are tional politics. He has already 70.000 "on band." demnnded and received a prom-The prom-The picture with respect to le from F. D. R. that he be con-tanks con-tanks is even more tragic. The suited about important pieces of monthly turnout of 100 envls- patronage. ages a lapse of almost eight Mr. Flynn has no passionate years before the required 9JO0 Interest in national politics as are ready for battle. Tripling or such. But he does want to run quadrupling of production will the show m New York City and reduce that period to either three atate, and he figures that the or two years. Incidentally, ex- more useful he can make himself perls seriously doubt that out- to the administration nationally, put can reaoh a maximum before the more influence he will exert late 1941 or early 1942. ln his own bailiwick. At the moment he is looking ahead to The significance of these fig- the mayoralty carnign next urea and future production esU- fall and to the gubernatorial con-mates con-mates lies in the light they shed test 12 months later. Upon the timeliness of the aid which America's awakening in- "Happy days" have vanished dustrtel might can afford to the for Tommle Corcoran, once the British. They also hint at the No. 1 bralntruster and President possibility that the United Mates Roosevelt's favorite mandolin may have to furnish more active player. Hostile circumstances naval and aerial reinforcement end individuals have ousted him In the meantime. from the presidential knee. Mr. Knudsen's report reveals Mr. Corcoran had a faculty that Britain can hardly depend of antagonizing bigwigs at Wash-upon Wash-upon this country for sufficient Ington. They resented his habit assistance to resist or defeat of telephoning them, "This Is Hitler until a year from now at Corcoran calling from the White the least. Even though England House" and giving them or gets the bulk of our 1941 war ders. He alienated such Individ-manufactures Individ-manufactures as Mr. Roosevelt uals as Farley, Garner and apparently Intends ahe will fall Flynn and influential congreas- |