Southern Oregon News Review, Thursday, November 4, 1948 Washington Digest? By BAVKHAGE WASHINGTON. — In this post-election calm which has settled over the dom estic political scene, m any a vest, sh irt, blouse, or slip in the cap ital conceals a p alpitating h e art. W hat about my governm ent job a fte r the glad (?) New Y ear? The regular classified civil servants haven’t much to fear They can’t be fired without cause, and no matter how thorough a new admin­ istration's housecleaning may be. most of the furniture lands right back where it was before, although here and there, you may at first fail to recognize an old friend in a new slipcover. Long ago most 100 per cent New-> Dealers in high places displayed the be the public relations secretary w isd o m w h ic h in the White House. The other was they felt was the a man who probably won't be in b e tte r p a r t of Washington at all—Dewey's veteran v a lo r and v a ­ political adviser, Edwin Jaeckle. moosed. O th e rs There was no conflict between the assumed new col­ two. a rare situation indeed. Jaeckle ors. Some who supplemented Hagerty, had not been too This would seem to contradict the careful previous­ sharp charges of Warren Moscow, ly to keep the author of “ Politics in the Empire right hand from State” which came out this fall. knowing what the Moscow, one of New York City’s left hand was do­ top-rank political reporters, who ing gradually be­ also covered Albany, claims that gan to grow am­ Dewey shut down news sources dur­ b id e x tro u s and ing his governorship in an attempt soon were able to to thwart any criticism. That he Baukhage write the lesson even tried to lay down a press con­ on the blackboard without exposing ference rule that a question was the wedding-ring finger. “off the record,” thus covering up There is however one class of the fact that an answer had been permanent Washingtonians which given not to be made public or had goes on like the brook. But even been refused. Moscow asserts that individuals in this class may find Dewey wanted to be the oracle, the the nature of their daily tasks dif­ one ana only, the sole source of fering slightly as administrations what should be reported. change. I refer, of course, to the If that was true earlier in Dewey’s Fourth Estate which now includes career, the dapper New Yorker commentators (since radio news­ who has been widely-touted of late men as well as newspapermen are for being able to take advice and eligible to the National Press club), for being able to pick people who thus establishing at least a mini­ know how to advise, has had some mum standard of merit. good advice. If he should revert to methods such as Moscow describes, Naturally we who cover the two things would happen: first, he White House always wonder would suffer; second, he would fail what manner of man we are in his attempt, and the effects of going to have to handle. While the effort might be permanently a new incumbent is learning disastrous. the art of getting his name favorably inserted into a Wash­ Some presidents have tried to ington dispatch or broadcast we conduct government by dis­ have a chance to learn the care turbing the "checks and bal­ and feeding of the source of ances.” * It never works long news which feeds the news to and the freedom of the press us. is one of the checks— a prin­ ciple that is part and parcel Once Dewey had a bad reputa­ of the American concept of tion in this regard. But then, most government. candidates are suspect before they start, since it is taken for granted A notable example of how the that they all are subject to the dis­ very weight of the news, legitimate ease of presidentitis which affects news, breaks through any wall, was victims differently. the case of the financial conference Coolidge, for instance, was per­ called by President Hoover just be­ haps least afflicted with this malady fore the end of his regime— 1931, to that attacks the strongest individ­ be exact. Hoover had no intention ual when he walks under the white- whatever of deceiving the public. pillared portico of 1600 Pennsyl­ He simply didn’t understand that vania avenue to stay for at least you couldn’t have a gathering like four years. And Coolidge was about 4fcat—without making an adequate lis rich in front page material of explanation of some kind. At any his own making as the clam he rate just a bare announcement was sought to emulate. issued. I remember a remark William F re e Pre»» I» Hard, now an editor of Reader's Beat C heck Digest, once made to me: The next day at the White House “Cal never seemed to suffer from presidentitis” (Hard invented the news conference. Hoover said he word, I believe)—“he is the only would not comment on the meeting occupant of the White House I know (though the notice had appeared of who, when he lay down to take in the papers), and that he consid­ his daily siesta, didn't think when ered it the duty of the press.not to he awoke that the world had gone print anything which was only par­ tially true, or else incomplete. to pieces.” Richard Oulihan of the New York No newsman, except toward Times, one of the most be­ the last, could complain about loved and respected correspondents Franklin Roosevelt's news con­ who ever covered Washington, and ferences. Regardless of what an outstanding leader, made a typ­ one might think of his views, ically dignified, but very emphatic his news was always printable. protest then and there. He said it It will be hard to produce an­ was out of the question to ask the other such. reporters not to get as complete a The heavy majority of those who story as they could. It was pointed traveled with Dewey on his cam­ out by another well-known reporter paign trips had nothing but praise. that the press would have to have But a few of those who had ex­ the story, and the reporters would perienced his press conferences, have to get it, regardless of the and had enjoyed—or otherwise—his President's wishes. press relations in earlier days were The President refused at first, but cynical. the reporters insisted. Finally ha “W ait,” they said, “until the agreed to give out an official state­ honeymoon is over.” ment after the conference. i I found it hard to get concrete I have known other examples predictions. I myself had seen a of short-lived gag rules. One vast improvement in Dewey’s press which Secretary of the Treas­ relations over the years since his ury Morgenthau tried to estab­ first campaign. And I see no rea­ lish on the treasury. He issued son why a person can’t and doesn’t an order that none of the treas­ learn. ury officials could talk with On the train, whenever he could newsmen. He might as well (and that is the way most of the have told reporters not to read correspondents d e s c rib e d it— the market quotations. It failed. “could,” not “would” ), Dewey Legitimate news continued to be went into the press car attached reported as it always had been. to his train, chatted individually Franklin Roosevelt had, at one with the fellows, learned to connect names with new faces, answered time, at least 80 per cent of the He questions, and at least appeared to newspapers "against” him. be frank and free with his “off the knew he couldn't change their edi­ record” remarks concerning Re­ torial views by giving out news to publican doubts and fears, real, im ­ their representatives. He also knew agined, or assumed. He sometimes that if he tried to withhold news, took time for a game of chess the American people would be far less likely to support him. And be­ “ with the boys.” cause he understood the meaning ' There was, however, much of the freedom of the press, he less informality in the atmos­ wouldn’t have thought of trying. phere of his entourage than And he knew how to make it appear there was in Trum an’s. The as favorable as possible. Dewey affair moved so smooth­ The most effective check in a ly that a creak or two would democracy is not the first, second have been welcome. Like the or third, but the fourth estate. An farm er in the poem “ so even unenlightened public conceivably ran his course of life the neigh­ might elect a totally bad president bors thought It odd.” and a totally bad congress which There was one man who made would establish a totally bad su­ press relations on the Dewey cam­ preme court, but unless the press is paign train a Joy—well, two men. gagged, the public in a democracy One was Jim Hagerty, trained re­ cannot be democratically unen­ porter himself, who is expected to lightened. Creoinuhion relieves pnirniuly bet s u m it goes right to the tre t of the trouble Do not use shellac on a winJow iush. It is not recommended for wood which is exposed directly to sunlight. Famous Sons Arrested A e g j A n a h it and Commentator. From Common Colds That HANG ON IÎ1TSI ~ n U. S. Presidents Respect Members o f Fourth Estate Beware Coughs OUSEHOLD ¡351 3Ü / ” 'H IE F Justice Fred M Vinson is not going to Moscow and his name, therefore, will not become a by-word with the Russian people. Down in Virginia, however, his name is so well known that it caused a Virginia traffic cop to rub his eyes. Among the students at Washing­ ton and Lee university happen to be the grandson of a late famous Virginia senator, the great grand­ son of a famed Civil war hero, and the son of a chief justice. All three were riding together near Lexing­ ton. Va., when arrested for speed­ ing. The policeman, proceeding to book them, asked their names. "Robert E. Lee IV ," replied the first student. It happened that he was telling the truth. The traffic cop looked up quizzically, but wrote the name down, then asked for the next name. "Carter Glass I I I , " was the re­ ply. The cop wrote the name down, then queried the third student. “What's yours?” “Fred M. Vinson J r.,” replied young Vinson. "Then my names' Napoleon,” exclaimed the flustered cop. and let all three boys go. NOTE—Mrs. Vinson, wife of the chief justice, suggested to her son that after graduating at Washing­ ton and Lee he might want to take his law degree at Yale. A Yale de­ gree. she intimated, might give him a better springboard into the legal fraternity. Replied her son: "Little Old Center college (Kentucky) was good enough for dad, wasn't it?” • • • Taxes Go Up in Smoke Brass hats have kept it hushed up, but the air force wasted thou­ sands of dollars taking worthless movies of the Bikini atomic-bomb tests. For some unexplained rea­ son, the job w’as turned over to in­ experienced officers. Brig. Gen. Paul Cullen, then a colonel, had charge of the air force camera crews at Bikini. His master­ piece was a glorified, technicolor training film called "Able Baker D ay,” which he sent over to Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer to be edited. But even after the Hollywood experts added their touches, the picture was such a flop and so hostile to the army and navy that it couldn't be shown. Poultrymen Advised To Retain A ll Pullets Culling Hens Is Means Of Increasing Returns To assure top poultry profits dur- 1 ing tho winter season, keep nn all- pullet Hock. Pullets lay in the fall and winter when egg prices are high. At the same time, old hens are going through their fall molt I and consuming 25 to 30 pounds of feed while producing no eggs. In the spring, when old hens re­ sume laying, egg prices are down, thus necessitating a ¡very heavy layer ¡to pay the $1.50 i feed bill which was amassed during the winter months. Old hens may be sold at once or they may be culled indi­ vidually as they go out of production. ___ J A w eekly check of ! the old hen flock will enable the I poultryman to cull out the loafers. If an old hen flock is maintained over the winter months, separate housing for pullets and old hens j should be provided for best man- ' agement and disease control. As another step in culling the j poultry flock, old roosters also i should be eliminated. They serve J no useful purpose and cat lots of feed. Some pullets also may have to be culled if the flock is to be main­ tained at the desired size for profit­ able operation throughout the win­ ter. In this case, only the best po- i tential layers should be retained A good ready-to-lay pullet is one that is smoothly feathered, plump in body and carries richly pigmented shanks. Pullets so developed can be brought into 50 per cent egg produc­ tion without crowding by the time they are six months old. Pullets, however, never should be forced into ! high production during their first two months of laying. Since the atomic energy commis­ sion had called upon all the armed services to cooperate in filming the Bikini explosions, the navy was working on a similar picture at the same time Cullen was making "Able Baker D ay." But Cullen was in such a hurry to finish the air force picture first and scoop the nayy that he sent an air force tech­ nical adviser under the pretense of helping the navy, though with secret instructions to obstruct and delay the navy picture. The air force also made another $50,000 technicolor extravaganza of Bikini, called “ Phantom Wings.” This smelled so that it also was never shown again. It was produced by MaJ. James L. Gaylord whose total photographic background, up to that time, had been as a per­ sonnel officer. And here is how the air force has rewarded the two officers who wasted so much of the taxpayers’ money: Cullen was promoted from colonel to brigadier general, and Gaylord—in spite of his first flop— was placbd in charge of filming the recent super-secret tests at Eniwetok for the atomic energy commission. He was supposed to have finished 24 films by October 1; so far, has delivered only five. • • • U. S. Army’s Prisoners Unfortunately, several thousand U. S. prisoners still remain in U. S. prisons for desertion, crime, or violation of discipline during the re­ cent war. Even more tragic, some prisoners have suffered “perma­ nent physical impairment” in soli­ tary confinement. This was con­ fessed in a recent circular issued by the air force inspector general. Meant only fer the eyes of the top brasa, the circular warned grim ly that regulations governing the treatment of these prisoners were “ not being com­ plied w ith.” —•— Crackers spread with peanut butter and broiled until bubbly make excellent appetizers. — a— Remove any meat that is to be broiled or roasted from the refrig­ erator and let it reach room tem­ perature before putting in the oven. It not only saves fuel but results in a better flavor. —_o — you can handle thorny plants easier by getting a pair of ice tongs and using them instead of your fingers. CREOMULSION for Coughi,Chest Cold», Bronchitis SHttt-UST JUMBO PECANS Srask, ••iSea, »esSei-aseeted gegerthall petans. Sltetl <>•«• Toe»' mesl fameus •»-