? I
President of the U. S. Has
Biggest Job in the World
* i
By BAUKHAGE
Vrui AnalyU and Commentator.
WNC Service, 1CU Eye Street, N.W..
Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON, D. C?Once more
events bring up the so far unan
cw*rM) nmKUwi
how can the I
White House be f
put on a business E
basis?
The White 1
House executive I
offices are the
headquarters of I
the biggest or- I
ganization in the I
world. The Presi- I
dent of the Unit- I
ed States is the I
head of this tre- I
mendnus iHmin. I
istrative set-up. Baukhage
Tew people real
ize the extent of his functions, most
of which aren't even suggested in
the constitution, and few laws de
fine them. They have grown like
Topsy
We are reminded of the scope of
the presidential duties by Wtllard
Kiplinger in his "Washington Is Lake
That." He points out that the Pres
ident as leader of his party runs
the party policies through the na
tional committee. Some times the
party line isn't working. You re- |
call the stew over meat? A meet
ing of Democratic party leaders, at
the moment when the President was
preparing to announce at a news
conference that he opposed remov
ing the controls on meat prices,
passed a resolution asking Chair
man Hannegan to confer with ad
ministrative officials concerning the
removal of such controls.
The President, as the top execu
tive, heads the executive set-up and
he appoints the men who run the
executive machinery. He can't talk
to each one every day. When there
is friction a hot-box often develops.
There are plenty of examples in
history from Ickes and Wallace,
back to Lincoln and Seward, and
before
Chief Executive a
Tash Never Endi
The President issues "executive
orders"?which someone has to
write for him but which have the
force of law ? and the President
must see that they are properly in
terpreted Again there is trouble if
these decrees tread on congression- '
al prerogatives
He has to get bills m-hich he fa
vors, passed. Frequently he writes
the first drafts of such bills with the
help of his legal advisors He is
expected, if necessary, to "put the
heat on" to get them through con
gress. This means a lot of work
in conference with congressional
leaders on the phone and through
his personal agents. A tactless
agent can easily upset the apple
cart. Remember how Tommy Cor
coran used to get under the skin of
congress? Many others, well inten
tion ed and otherwise, who came and
went, might be named.
The President has to make up the
budget, with the help of the budget
director. If the director makes mis
takes or asks for too much or too
little, it is the White House that takes
the rap. This involves billions.
He appoints the Justices of the Su
preme court and federal judges. A
bad choice may be fatal, and yet
one parson can't know the personal
history of every likely candidate. In
this sense the President forms the
legal thinking of his era.
He it not only his own and his
party's but also the nation's chief
publicity man. A slip of the tongue
not only can lose an election, but
also could start a war. If war
comes, he has to run it, tor the
strategy in the field is based an
broad objectives decided at home
It was by no means merely mili
tary opinion which decided when
and where the invasion of Europe
took place.
These are only a few of the things
a President has to think about. We
have omitted mention of many mi
nor but time-consuming matters
such as whether the architectural
beauty of the White House shall be
altered with a new wing, or where
some visiting potentate shall sit at
the table. All full of dynamite.
It was the death of Wood row Wil
son which brought the presidential
workload to public attention. He
died, as much from overwork as
from his disappointment over repu
diation of the League of Nations.
Serious study of the problem of fur
nishing a maaas to lighten the presi
dential burden began shortly there
after, but it was not until 1S39 that
a specific plan was drawn up and
submitted to congress. Among oth
er suggestions for various depart
mental reorganisations, the plan
created a presidential staff of "ex
ecutive assistants."
About all the public knows about
this corps of assistants is that they
are supposed to possess a "passion
for anonymity." The other thing
about them, which isn't usually ad
mitted, is that they have never func
tioned properly. That, at least, is
the private opinion of one insider
who has watched them come and go
from the beginning. The reason is
simple; people who expect a deci
sion on an important matter won't
take it from anyone but the Presi
dent himself.
Must Keep Close
Check on Aides
A pitiful example of the break
down of the White House machinery
was the recent Wallace ruckus. The
President never need have been
placed in the position he was.
It is not a President's job to read
over every document submitted to
him. No head of a business as big
as the government would dream of
trying to do that. But somebody
should have read both the Wallace
memorandum on foreign policy and
the Wallace speech and apprised the
President of what they contained
and implied. Whether it is the Pres
ident's fault that he didn't have
properly experienced hired help, is
another matter. That his hired
help didn't function, caused the
damage.
An explanation, if not an excuse,
has been offered in this case. The
job of reading over public state
ments of administration men
bers to see that they didn't conflict
was handled by the OWI during the
war Before that the White House
machinery had always taken care
of such matters. That machin
ery had not been again set in mo
tion when OWI ceased to function.
The fault was not that the Presi
dent didn't prevent the Wallace
Byrnes clash, but that he was not
prevented from preventing it.
I can think of only one similar bad
mistake made by President Roose
velt which parallels the Wallace
mix-up and it was due to a similar
but not the same cause. It involved
the highly technical question of the
public debt. An "assistant." sup
posed to be an expert, furnished the
figures on which the President based
an important public statement. The
eagle-eyed financial writers caught
it. The "expert" was called to ac
count; he furnished new figures,
was wrong again and caught again.
The President was forced to make
a second public correction.
The duties of a President are sim
ply too great for any one man. So
Presidents have always had person
al advisors, some times they were
given an office, some times they
had no official title?like Colonel
House in the Wilson regime. To
day we hear little about presidential
"administrative assistants" but we
hear a great deal about a group of
"advisors" who have failed to tunc
tion properly in spite at the fact that
unlike the executive assistants they
lack authority. These advisors are
too "close" to the President. And
they have been criticized by other
members of the administration for
standing between department heads,
the congressional and party landers.
They are all old. close, personal
friends of the President. TTiey are
inexperienced in government
Whether President Truman's little
circle of. "cronies" has helped or
hindered him is beside the question
No one can dispute the fact that
they were chosen because of their
loyalty rather than because of their
experience. The question is wheth
er presidential duties, as they exist
today, can be delegated even to a
well-trained, highly capable staff.
They can. is the answer. IF such a
staff is not blocked by higher au
thorities who. from motives of love,
hate, politics, religion, tempera
ment. taste or previous condition of
servitude, use such authority, oth
er than in the public good.
? ? ?
When Oscar, pet seal of the Cali
fornia Academy of Science, died, it
was found that he had swallowed
54 in pennies, nickels and dimes,
plus a Canadian penny and an
amusement token. But it was the
pennies which were fatal?the zinc
ones developed poison.
? ? ?
A Russian engineer claims he has
perfected ballbearings so small that
50.000 can be placed in a match box.
But will that make It any easier to
roll your own?
BARBS . . . by Baukhage
A Holland-American liner depart
ed recently with more than three
and a half million eggs aboard?
first egg cargo of its use since
shells ceased bursting.
? ? ?
Government statistician! are leav
ing Washington in hordes, says
Buainoas Wast Maybe the political
attaatta^is so hot they think tbare
Plenty of meat after the elections,
says Chester Boa-lea. Will there be
any fravy? And if so. for whom*
a a ?
Discords come from Russia, where
critics claim Shostakovich's amth
symphony doesn't follow the party
lines. The point is that the coun
EISENHOWER HONORED IN EUROPE . . . More and more honors
were heaped upon Gen. Dwight Eisenhower on his trip through Europe.
With Mrs. Eisenhower, he is shown chatting with King George ot Eng
land at Balmoral, Scotland, where the Eisenhowers were guests of the
royal family. General Eisenhower previously visited the castle which
was presented him by the citizens of Scotland. Every city presented
him with medals and keys to the city. He was also given freedom of
the city wherever he appeared in Scotland and England.
TURNS.NIGHT INTO DAT . . . Prof. Etienne Vassy. 37, expert on
atmospheric physics at Sorbonne university, Paris, pictured with his
wife in their laboratory as they announced discovery of formula for
turning night into day. By means of radio transmission of optical waves
directed at (ominous strata. Professor Vassy says he will be able to
capture enough light from the sky to read without lamps or to drive
without headlights at night.
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS . . . Mountains of Loot Island,
N. T., potatoes. nearly 4 .tee bushels an the Ckirlei McVij ranch at
Rirtrteat. They were purchased by the U. S. prenneat at ap
praximately $J.S7 a hundred pounds While Suffolk county potato
growers have enjoyed hamper cropo this year, they are encountering
diflrutties h rrtUnj their yields to market Maay of the potatoes
started to spoil la the held before freight ears were made available.
WHO SATS THERE'S A HEAT SHORTAGE . With retail batcher
shops elosinc in mast cities, this is a rare scene at the ReeTjtewn. N. J.,
ahattair, where aaaai. John NutUA, ex-GX, Aeeided to sell retail
at OTA prices his hif sapplr af all kMi af Beat. Martini ok. wha em
h^wto^eJeeVhla^eie^w^Jah aa? at the same ttaaiT [tre'nal
NEW CHIEF JUSTICE . . . When
the United States Supreme court
began its new term, in a brief
hot ceremonious session, Fred M.
Vinson, was installed as the new
chief jnstice. He is shown above
as he took his place on the bench.
NEW LEGION COMMANDER . . .
Paul H. Griffith, L'niontown, Pa.,
newly elected commander of the
American Legion. Twenty-eight
years ago he was roiled in an
army blanket and left on road
side for burial after being report
ed dead.
TYPING KING . . . Albert Tan
tori. seven-time winner of the
world's championship typing title,
is shown at the National Business
show. New York City. He set a
record of 142 words per minute
for an hour straight to make rec
ord.
KING OF PICKERS . . . Engene
Chin*nit, <1, of Memphis, Tenn.,
grins delightedly at the S1.M4 first
prixe which he woa as champion
picker at the National Cotton pick
i ing contest at Blytheville. Ark.
He picked 1*3 pounds in two
hoars.
LEGION At XIl.IART BEAD . . .
Mrs. Dorothy W. Pearl. Detroit.
Mich., orb* was recentW e'ected
president of the American Lectaa
AoxiUary. nctteimi Mrs. Mal
. ter G. Crira. Charlotte. N. C-,
I at the aoti?il coarentiaa.
REDS CONVERT NAZIS
WASHINGTON. - U. S. intelli
gence officials have sent the White
House a highly important report an
Soviet operations in Germany show
ing how the Russians have convert
ed large segments of the old Ger
man army to the Communist ban
ner.
Nucleus of the new Red-Nazi
army is the old German Libera
tion committee, organized by the
Russians when they captured sev
eral thousand Nazis at Stalingrad.
Field Marshal Frederich Von Paul
us, who surrendered at Stalingrad,
was chairman of this committee and
appealed by radio to the Nazi
army in Germany during the war,
urging them to desert Hitler and
come over to the Russians.
Today thousands of Von Paulus's
men and officers have been put
through Russian indoctrination
schools designed to sell them on
sympathy for the Soviet and are
ready to govern the Soviet zone of
Germany.
Here are other salient points in
the U. S. intelligence report:
1. The Russian zone is now more
than twice as efficient as a produc
tive unit as the American zone and
three times as productive as the
British zone.
2. The Russians are prepared to
set up a government of their own
in Germany if the Americans and
the British set up an autonomous
German government in the western
part of the Reich. It will be under
Von Paulus.
3. The Russians are not retaining
Germans for slave labor, as gener
ally expected. They have already
sent a million and a half captured
Nazis from Russia to the Soviet
zone of Germany, where each has
completed one year's schooling
under Soviet and German Commu
nist instructors. Only a half million
Germans still are being used in la
bor battalions in Russia. These are
the leading Nazis whom the Rus
sians know they can't either con
vert or trust.
The U. S. intelligence report
strongly recommends against an
autonomous German government in
the Anglo-American zone, as pro
posed by Secretary Byrnes, and
urges instead agreement with the
' Russians on the control of Germany.
; It points out that unless agreement
I is reached, Germany again will be
the source of a new world war in
the not too distant future.
? ? ?
LA GCARDIA SEES STALIN
When ENRRA Director La
Goardia and aides visited Mos
cow on their recent tonr of En
rope, the entire party was eager
to see Stalin. The Kremlin in
vitation, however, permitted
only La Gnardia and two other
ENRRA officials to call on the
top Soviet leader.
La Gnardia, therefore, sug
gested to his aide, Joseph Lilly,
that he divert the rest of the
party by taking them to Lenin's
tomb, where the body of the fa
ther of the Russian revolution
is still perfectly preserved.
Late that night, the party re
assembled. and Lilly eagerly
asked La Gnardia what he had
learned from Stalin. Replied
Fiorello:
"I got as much out of Stalin
as you did out of Lenin."
? ? ?
NO MONET FOR FINLAND
Finland has been known to Amer
icans as the little country which al
ways paid its debts. Now, howev
er, the U. S. is getting the repu
tation among Finns as a country
which breaks its financial promises.
What happened is that a year ago
Finland sent a trade delegation here
to arrange for a 70 million dollar
loan from the Export-Import bank.
The loan was promised, and on the
basis of this promise, the Finns
made purchases amounting to 35
million dollars in the United States,
with partial commitments for the
remaining 35 million dollars.
Part of the deal was that Finland
was to secure coal from this coun
try, which in turn would help in
crease her newsprint production.
Many American newspapers made
arrangements to buy this extra
I newsprint.
However, something has caused
the state department to reverse it
self. The Export-Import bank loan
; to Finland has been held up.
Actual, although unannounced
reason for the reversal is the fact
that Finland is now in the Soviet
sp'-.er- of influence and it's feared
tlu.'. <>ry financial help indirectly
would aid Russia However, there
is considerable difference of opinion
regarding this.
So far. however, Finns still
are waiting.
...
ADMIRAL HALS FT GETS BORED
Admiral William (Bull) Halsey is
begmnin; to fidget in his new job
an the President'; super-advisory
; board of five-star army-navy offi
cers. Since his semi-diplomatic mis
sion to South America. Halsey has
had little to do. Privately, the tough
little skipper hankers to take that
job as vice president of Pan Amer
ican airways, which is rtill open to
him. He isn't interested in the ex
tra money. His sperkplug tempera
ment craves action, m or out of tlw
navy
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
BUILDING MATERIALS
CONCRETE BLOCE MACHINES (NEW>
8x8x16. Hand Tarnped. 00
FRED M I'BBAV, Oakdale. New York
BUSINESS k INVEST. OPPOB.
WELL ESTABLISHED MEAT and Gro
cery Self-Service Super Market with beer
and wine license offered for sale in a
crowing and prosperous city. All cash, no
credit trade, excellent fixtures, well stock
ed good location with long lease and low
overhead. With the present machinery,
very little or no previous experience nec
essary to run the store. Present owner is
entering a new field of business. It will
take 821.000 cash to handle which will
pay for the stock fixtures and good will.
For Inquiries?Write
F. O. BOX 1S4. Portamontk, Ta.
FARMS AND RANCHES
New Castle County, Delaware
Farm far Sale by Owner. 8. D. Tewnsead.
15 miles south of Wilmington. 1.500 ft. front
age on macadam road one mile north of
Delaware City. 215 acres. 106 acres rich
soil tillage, bal. in permanent pasture and
rat marsh. Good brick dwelling, eight lge.
rooms, bath. Electric water supply. Beau
tiful grounds with lots of trees. Bam 40x60
ft., basement, stalls for 18 cows. Other nec
essary buildings. $22,000. See JACOB E.
KEIM ?? farm, address Delaware City.
Dei. Phone D. C. 8061.
BUT AN ESTABLISHED business. Big
income dairy farm for sale. Price in
cludes all stock, crops and machinery.
Good buildings. Cozy farm home, bath,
electric, and water. Immed. poas. Price
821.000. Write P.O. Bex 74, Thompson. Pa.
HELP WANTED?MEN
MILL FOREMAN?Excellent opportunity
for man thoroughly experienced in wood
mill work and supervision. Give full ex
perience and references. WRITE Owens
Yackt Co.. Dundalk. Baltimore 22, Md.
FARM HELP: One married, one single
man on dairy. Must be able to rim milkers
and strip. Good salary. Write or apply
MACK AGEE. Dnlmney Valley Rd. 7 Ml.
Nortk of TOWSON. Mi., Phoeais. p. O.
HELP WANTED?WOMEN
REGISTERED NURSES needed for 400
bed hospital. Good salary and full main
tenance. Write Ssperintendent. NORFOLK
GENERAL HOSPITAL. Norfolk. VlrriaUa.
MISCELLANEOUS
shells, complete supplies. nu? pans,
earrings, combs, novelties. Instructions
free with $2 and S5 kits. Free catalogue.
HERBERT DIAMOND COMPANY
Box 4419, Miami, Florida.
SEEPS, PLANTS, ETC.
SEEDS : ALFALFA. CLOVERS. GRASSES
Write for samples and prices.
Ssperlor Seed A Supply Co., Norfolk. Ncbr.
WANTED TO BUY
WANTED?U. 8. GOLD COINS
for my collection. Will pay following
prices for coins in fine condition. IS
for $20, $16 for $10. $8 for $5. $7 for $3.
$4 for $2^. $214 for $1. Write for details.
P.O. Box 2646, Baltimore IS, Maryland.
Buy and Hold Tour
U. S. Savings Bonds
Gas on Stomach
When rxesmstoaw^ Md eamm pshrtjTsStm^
prescribe the foetest-oetiac mefftrineo known for
?iwpUaaatfersMsf? madktoss Hks thoas i p b?u-*ns
TmbJete. No laxative. Bell-ana Mags nwafml in a
Jiff j or^ooblejw mgney bock aa return of boCtW
A favorite household antiseptic dress
Lng and linimrnt for 96 yearo Hanford'e
BALSAM OF MYRRH! It contains
soothing gums to relieve the ooreneso and
ache of over-used and strained muscle*.
Takes the sting and itch out of burns,
scalds, insect bites, oak and ivy poison
ing. wind and tun burn, chafing and
chapped skin. Its antiseptic action less
ens the danger of infection whenever the
?kin is cut or broken.
Keep a bottle handy far the minor
casualties of kitchen and am scry. At
tout druggist?trial sise bottle 35*;
household aim 65*; economy Mm $1.25.
a C. HAN FORD MFQ. 00, ff???'. PLY.
SoJs makers of
UH
ARE YOU Mil
WIAKJIRID
*n t. MONTHLY LOSSES?
Too girls and women who low eo
much during monthly periods
TOUT* pale. wnk, "dragged out"?
this may be due to lack of blood-Iron.
Bo try Lydla k Pinkbamb TABUTS
? one of the beat home way* to
?wlM up red blood?in each case*.
PUikhemb Tableta are ana of the
neat blood-lroo tonka you aaa buyl
WNU?4 43 46
For Yon To Feel Veil
t? boon eej to. t ?aro Sear
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