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In normal times, perhaps, such things
t
would not attract national attention.
5
But in an emergency, with citizens
everywhere being taxed to the limit and
called upon to sacrifice in the national
interest, they are deeply disturbing.
Also there is the charge that the United
Truman's Denunciation
Corp., which constantly has dealings with
the Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion, is now officered, from president
Of Critics Ineffective
down, almost entirely by former em-
ployes and members of the SEC. The
Writer Lists Charges Against
impropriety is clear. A third thing is the
Administration Stalwarts
character of the Truman judicial ap-
pointments. Beginning with the naming
of ex-Senator Sherman Minton, a vio-
By Frank R. Kent
lent and bitter Indiana New Deal poli-
It is obvious that the opponents of
tician, the charge is that the judges
President Truman are not going to let
named since 1945, with few exceptions,
him get away with the large and small
have been named solely for political rea-
events that have made his administra-
sons. Questions of merit have been dis-
tion odoriferous, either by vague denun-
regarded.
ciations or by igoring the facts.
A fourth smelly thing now discussed
Not long ago when the odor became
is the diplomatic appointments. The
very bad, indeed, Democrats as well as
most flagrant of these is that of ex-
Republicans openly began to wonder
Mayor O'Dwyer to Mexico. That selec-
how the President could hope to ignore
tion, primarily backed by the same
personal, documented charges such as
Chairman Fitzpatrick, now interested
were contained in various national
in defense contracts, was so political and
magazines, millions of copies of which
improper that there was a strong protest
went all over the country. After this
when it was announced. Months ago
attitude of indifference had caused wide
the Kefauver committee revealed a con-
comment, the President issued a state-
nection between O'Dwyer and the noto-
ment in which, in broad, general terms,
rious Frank Costello. A few weeks ago
he denounced "liars" and "scandal
another notorious gambler testified to
mongers." In reply to this outburst
even closer personal and political rela-
Senator Taft, pointed out that many
tions with O'Dwyer, and to large con-
of these charges had been, brought out
tributions from gambling sources to his
and substantiated by Democratic com-
campaign. Yet Mr. O'Dwyer remains
mittees. "I suggest," he said, "that he
Ambassador to Mexico.
point out the lies instead of just
shouting liar."
Without putting Chester Bowles, re-
Since then there have been several
cently named Ambassador to India, in a
other things besides the, deep-freezes,
class with Mr. O'Dwyer, it is true that
the mink coats, the RFC exposure, the
the Bowles appointment is thoroughly
allegations against Chairman Boyle, etc.,
political. With no experience or train-
well calculated to make the administra-
ing as a diplomat, and with no known
tion's smell more pronounced. One of
qualifications for the job, Mr. Bowles is
these is the charge by Senator Neely,
sent to one of the most explosive and
Democrat, of West Virginia, that New
important posts in the world.
York Democratic Chairman Paul Fitz-
Add these recent developments
to
patrick, close friend of the President,
those that developed previously and it
had visited the White House in behalf
will be conceded the odor of the ad-
of a national corporation seeking a big
ministration, admittedly high before, has
e
defense contract.
not been lessened-quite the reverse.
Some are convinced there will be more-
and worse - developments before long.
At any rate there are enough now to
make the effort to sweep them aside with
general press conference denunciations
of "liars," "character assassins" and
"scandal mongers," etc., seem inadequate
and ineffectual.
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"ocrText": "e\n*\n*\n-\nIn normal times, perhaps, such things\nt\nwould not attract national attention.\n5\nBut in an emergency, with citizens\neverywhere being taxed to the limit and\ncalled upon to sacrifice in the national\ninterest, they are deeply disturbing.\nAlso there is the charge that the United\nTruman's Denunciation\nCorp., which constantly has dealings with\nthe Securities and Exchange Commis-\nsion, is now officered, from president\nOf Critics Ineffective\ndown, almost entirely by former em-\nployes and members of the SEC. The\nWriter Lists Charges Against\nimpropriety is clear. A third thing is the\nAdministration Stalwarts\ncharacter of the Truman judicial ap-\npointments. Beginning with the naming\nof ex-Senator Sherman Minton, a vio-\nBy Frank R. Kent\nlent and bitter Indiana New Deal poli-\nIt is obvious that the opponents of\ntician, the charge is that the judges\nPresident Truman are not going to let\nnamed since 1945, with few exceptions,\nhim get away with the large and small\nhave been named solely for political rea-\nevents that have made his administra-\nsons. Questions of merit have been dis-\ntion odoriferous, either by vague denun-\nregarded.\nciations or by igoring the facts.\nA fourth smelly thing now discussed\nNot long ago when the odor became\nis the diplomatic appointments. The\nvery bad, indeed, Democrats as well as\nmost flagrant of these is that of ex-\nRepublicans openly began to wonder\nMayor O'Dwyer to Mexico. That selec-\nhow the President could hope to ignore\ntion, primarily backed by the same\npersonal, documented charges such as\nChairman Fitzpatrick, now interested\nwere contained in various national\nin defense contracts, was so political and\nmagazines, millions of copies of which\nimproper that there was a strong protest\nwent all over the country. After this\nwhen it was announced. Months ago\nattitude of indifference had caused wide\nthe Kefauver committee revealed a con-\ncomment, the President issued a state-\nnection between O'Dwyer and the noto-\nment in which, in broad, general terms,\nrious Frank Costello. A few weeks ago\nhe denounced \"liars\" and \"scandal\nanother notorious gambler testified to\nmongers.\" In reply to this outburst\neven closer personal and political rela-\nSenator Taft, pointed out that many\ntions with O'Dwyer, and to large con-\nof these charges had been, brought out\ntributions from gambling sources to his\nand substantiated by Democratic com-\ncampaign. Yet Mr. O'Dwyer remains\nmittees. \"I suggest,\" he said, \"that he\nAmbassador to Mexico.\npoint out the lies instead of just\nshouting liar.\"\nWithout putting Chester Bowles, re-\nSince then there have been several\ncently named Ambassador to India, in a\nother things besides the, deep-freezes,\nclass with Mr. O'Dwyer, it is true that\nthe mink coats, the RFC exposure, the\nthe Bowles appointment is thoroughly\nallegations against Chairman Boyle, etc.,\npolitical. With no experience or train-\nwell calculated to make the administra-\ning as a diplomat, and with no known\ntion's smell more pronounced. One of\nqualifications for the job, Mr. Bowles is\nthese is the charge by Senator Neely,\nsent to one of the most explosive and\nDemocrat, of West Virginia, that New\nimportant posts in the world.\nYork Democratic Chairman Paul Fitz-\nAdd these recent developments\nto\npatrick, close friend of the President,\nthose that developed previously and it\nhad visited the White House in behalf\nwill be conceded the odor of the ad-\nof a national corporation seeking a big\nministration, admittedly high before, has\ne\ndefense contract.\nnot been lessened-quite the reverse.\nSome are convinced there will be more-\nand worse - developments before long.\nAt any rate there are enough now to\nmake the effort to sweep them aside with\ngeneral press conference denunciations\nof \"liars,\" \"character assassins\" and\n\"scandal mongers,\" etc., seem inadequate\nand ineffectual."
}