Show I 1 NEWS BEHIND H I ND THE NEWS Written tI for The h Telegram By R Ray Y Tucker C WASHINGTON President Roosevelt's utilization of so- so called experts has brought to the capital a cabinet that was neither elected nor appointed to office It has virtually supplanted his regular staff of advisers Though his name rarely appears in the news columns as a White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House Howe guest Roving Ambassador Norman H. H Davis is F. F D. D Rs R.'s foreign affairs expert he slips into the mansion after dark Edward Edward Edward Ed Ed- ward F. F McGrady is the presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's liaison man with important labor groups willIe while Rich Rich- berg Tugwell and Berle perform the same chores on the other side of the street Ex-Counsel Ex Samuel of Albany advises on legal matters and Son James handles the personal politicking Cabinet meetings as a result have become humdrum affairs They last only an hour or so so and andrio no rio serious business is discussed On both the foreign and domestic front the president frequently enunciates policies which his special special special cial adviser in that field first hears of when he reads reads his his morning morning morning morn morn- ing newspaper The president Kennedy boom has been launched in a big but silent way The suggestion that F. F D. D R. R was grooming the Boston boy for 1940 by sending him to London London Lon Lon- don with the treasury cabinet job in the offing provoked howls of laughter when it was first broached on Capitol Hill The obvious political reply was that thata a a. Roman Catholic from Massachusetts Massachusetts Massachusetts Massa Massa- could not become president president president dent of the United States The The same objection incidentally has been raised against National Chairman Farley Fancy It Is chiefly based on Al Smiths Smith's unhappy experience ex cx- x- x in 1928 But western and southern Democrats Democrats Democrats Dem Dem- friendly to Joe and Jim insist that their religion would be no bar these days They argue that Al was defeated not because of his Catholicism but because of his avowed wetness his Tammany Tammany Tam Tam- many connections his accent and appearance They contend that a Tammany non-Tammany fellow fellow tellow fel tel low like Kennedy might make it And the quiet up build for Joe as a rival to Robert H. H Jackson has been started They are talk talk- ing already of a business mans man's ticket with a man named Jones for V. V P. P The Mister Jones they're whispering about comes from Texas American naval officers have clamped down a rigid system of secrecy and censorship since the bombing of the Panay It reflects grave concern over world affairs In former years the navy welcomed wel wel- even corned even begged for the for the presence of reporters and photographers photographers photographers raphers at the annual war games in the Pacific But this year it itis itis itis is still doubtful whether news and camera men will be permitted to accompany the fleet Their re requests requests requests re- re quests were submitted weeks ago but so far no reply has been forth forth- coming No longer will navy press officers permit visitors in including including in- in eluding reporters to interview members of the high command They must be accredited and in introduced introduced in- in beforehand A stranger who gets lost in the corridors of the intelligence communications or operations sections is immediately immediately immediately imme imme- accosted by an orderly and asked to give an account of himself Not since 1917 has such an at atmosphere atmosphere atmosphere at- at of suspicion darkened the capital Even more than belligerent belligerent bel bel- be- be notes and building programs programs programs pro pro- grams for the army and navy these the shoulder regulations regulations regulations regula regula- substantiate private reports that war is just around the cor cor- ner When the navy fights the press it means that its it's preparing to fight somebody more important tant President Roosevelt may not appreciate Jim Farleys Farley's popularity popularity popularity larity with the party rank and file but a score of Democratic gubernatorial candidates know v now much his backing means Their off the record with Jim may sew up the next convention for convention for him Heres Here's what is happening behind important backs In various states states California California Ohio Kentucky New York Massachusetts Mas Mas- there there are arc rival candidates candidates candidates candi candi- dates for the gubernatorial nomination nomination nomination nomi nomi- nation who figure that Mr F.'s blessing might provide the margin margin margin mar mar- gin they need So through emissaries emissaries emis emis- saries saner they have let him know that if he backs them in their hour of political need they need 1938 they will line up in in his corner in 1940 And nobody can dominate delegates to a national convention so completely as the governor of a state l If Jim is smart smart smart-if if he happens happens happens hap hap- pens to pick winners in these various various vari vari- ous contests for local honors honors and and if the beneficiaries keep their promises promises promises-he he may easily enter the 1940 coO convention as the outstanding outstanding outstanding ing favorite with favorite with at least delegates for him on the first ballot Anybody who discounts the big boys boy's chances next time doesn't know American politics polities or or Jim For the first time in his long career Uncle George Norris appears appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears to have slipped in proposing a plan for popular and painless amendment of the constitution Both radicals and conservatives have ganged against him The consensus of complaint is that the Nebraskans Nebraskan's scheme makes it too easy for hare-brained hare ideas to become fundamental law Under hI his hl system an amendment amendment amendment amend amend- ment might be submitted by congress congress congress con con- gress in October put up to the voters in November and embalmed in the constitution without sufficient sufficient dent debate or discussion It holds a threat for the very groups the senator has always championed cham cham- the the minorities But unlike most Norris proposals proposals pro pro- it stands no chance of acceptance Frazier Lemko act farmers' farmers debt moratorium will be extended extend extend- ed for two years Bill to compel compel com corn pel patentees to license manufacture ture of their inventions is under consideration Bituminous coal commission is hearing protests protests protests pro pro- tests against its price fixing or orders or- or ders ders cities and railroads insist they were not given proper hear hear- ings Parties interested in pending regulations of transport of explosives explosive by trucks are Invited in invited invited In- In by interstate commerce commission commission com corn mission to send in their comments by March 1 Leases have been arranged for housing projects In Chicago Omaha Toledo Wayne Pa Cambridge Mass and In In- Copyright 1938 for The Telegram I |