Show NEWS BEHIND M Written for The Telegram By Ray Tu Tucks TucUr WASHINGTON Louis J Johnson Johnson John ohn- 1 son assistant secretary of war served with distinction overseas but buthe he never suffered there the wounds which were inflicted upon him as a member of President President President Pres Pres- ident Roosevelt's household It is true that Harry Woodring Woodring Woodring Wood- Wood ring and Johnson squabbled for several years but it was F. F DRs DRs DRs D. D Rs R.'s fault that these difficulties were not smoothed out He let them fight and seemed to enjoy enjoy enjoy en en- joy it until the blitzkrieg came Even so Mr Johnson handled the highly specialized job of gearing industry for national preparedness an assignment which neither Mr Woodring nor Mr Stimson could undertake Louis had been promised the by the president when and if Mr Woodring quit but he was sidetracked Despite his disappointment Louis stayed staved on like a good soldier at F. F D. D Rs R.'s personal request Now Republican Cabinet Member Member Member Mem Mem- ber wants a G. G O. O P. P friend as his aid instead of the sturdy Democrat from West Virginia Louis is summarily dismissed despite his excellent record despite despite despite de de- de- de spite the sacrifice of his ambitions ambitions ambi ambi- despite his quiet withdrawal withdrawal withdrawal with with- from the vice presidential race at Chicago at F. F D. D Rs R.'s personal request President Roosevelt's attack on Johnnie Hanes was a major political bl blunder in the opinion of the presidents president's own friends The inside story of Mr Hanes' Hanes appointment first as a member of the securities and exchange commission and secondly as undersecretary undersecretary undersecretary un un- un- un of the treasury demonstrates that he was dedi dedi- to humanity rather than to dollars Mr Hanes sacrificed a splendid splendid splendid did salary to come to Washing Washing- ton He came at the behest of son James Roosevelt who argued that his father lather was being deceived deceived deceived de de- de- de and bamboozled by half- half baked economists and begged Johnnie to accept office and inject some sense into fiscal and andS S SEC E C policies Reluctantly Hanes accepted and performed a distinct service with the S SEC E C. C He escorted Chairman Jerome G. G around the marts and clubs of New York and proved that some new deal commissars did not wear hooves and horns He achieved some sort of a compromise compromise compromise com com- promise between Washington and Wall street At the insistence of the president president president dent and Henry he shifted to the treasury where he helped to needle some sense into the tax lax structure He quit j Washington with a from the president But now that he has come out for Wendell L. L Willkie his decoration decoration decoration deco deco- ration bears other and less mentionable mentionable mentionable men- men letters than Vice President Garner left for Texas without announcing publicly publicly publicly pub pub- whether he will ever return to Washington But to close friends he confided that he will come back only if the president president president dent summons me In other words the V. V P. P who used to tobe tobe tobe be one of the best poker players on Capitol Hill will let Mr Roosevelt call his card earth Copyright 1940 McClure Syndicate |