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__ % Washington Di9est> U. 5. Presidents Respect Members of Fourth Estate By BAUKHAGE Newt Analyst and Commentator. WASHINGTON. — In this post-election calm which has settled over the domestic political scene, many a vest, shirt, blouse, or slip in the capital conceals a palpitating heart. What about my government job after the glad (?) New Year? 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* btration’s housecleaning may be, most of the furniture lands right back where it was before, although here and there, you may at first faQ to recognize an old friend in a new slipcover. Bankhage Long ago most 100 per cent New$- Dealers in high places displayed the wisdom which they felt was the better part of valor and va moosed. Others assumed new col ors. Some who had not been too careful previous ly to keep the right hand from knowing what the left hand was do ing gradually be gan to grow am bidextrous and soon were able to write the lesson •n the blackboard without exposing the wedding-ring finger. There is however one class of permanent Washingtonians which goes on like the brook. But even individuals in this class may find the nature of their daily tasks dif fering slightly as administrations change. I refer, of course, to the Fourth Estate which now includes commentators (since radio news men as well as newspapermen are eligible to the National Press club), thus establishing at least a mini mum standard of merit. Naturally we who cover the White House always wonder what manner of mar we are going to have to handle. While a new Incumbent is learning the art of getting his name favorably inserted into a Wash ington dispatch or broadcast we have a chance to learn the care and feeding of the source of news which feeds the news to ■s. Once Dewey had a bad reputa tion in this regard. But then, most candidates are suspect before they start, since it is taken for granted that they all afe subject to the dis ease of presidentitis which affects victims differently. Coolidge, for instance, was per haps least afflicted with this malady that attacks the strongest individ ual when he walks under the white- pillared portico of 1600 Pennsyl vania avenue to stay for at least four years. And Coolidge was about as rich in front page material of his own making as the clam he sought to emulate. I remember a remark William Hard, now an editor of Reader's Digest, once made to me: “Cal never seemed to suffer from presidentitis” (Hard invented the word, I believe)—“he is the only occupant of the White House I know of who, when he lay down to take his daily siesta, didn’t think when he awoke that the world had gone to pieces.” Nu newsman, except toward the last, could complain about Franklin Roosevelt's news con ferences. Regardless of what one might think of his views, his news was always printable. It will be hard to produce an other such. The heavy majority of those who traveled with Dewey on his cam paign trips had nothing but praise. But a few of those who had ex perienced his press conferences, and had enjoyed—or otherwise—his press relations in earlier days were cynical. “Wait," they said, “until the honeymoon is over.” I found it hard to get concrete predictions. I myself had seen a vast improvement in Dewey’s press relations over the years since his first campaign. And I see no rea son why a person can’t and doesn’t learn. On the train, whenever he could (and that is the way most of the correspondents described it— “could,” not “would”), Dewey went into the press car attached to his train, chatted individually with the fellows, learned to connect names with new faces, answered questions, and at least appeared to be frank and free with his “off the record” remarks concerning Re publican doubts and fears, real, im agined, or assumed. He sometimes took time for a game of chess “with the boys.” there was, however, much less informality in the atmos phere of his entourage than there was in Truman’s. The Dewey affair moved so smooth ly that a creak or two would have been welcome. Like the fanner in the poem “so even ran his course of life the neigh bors thought it odd.” There was one man who made press relations on the Dewey cam paign train a joy—well, two men. One was Jim Hagerty, trained re porter himself, who is expected to be the public relations secretary in the White House. The other was a man who probably won’t be in Washington at all—Dewey’s veteran political adviser, Edwin Jaeckle. There was no conflict between the two, a rare situation indeed. Jaeckle supplemented Hagerty. This would seem to contradict the sharp charges of Warren Moscow, author of “Politics in the Empire State” which came out this fall. Moscow, one of New York City’s top-rank political reporters, who also covered Albany, claims that Dewey shut down news sources dur ing his governorship in an attempt to thwart any criticism. That he even tried to lay down a press con ference rule that a question was “off the repord,” thus covering up the fact that an answer had been given not to be made public or had been refused. Moscow asserts that Dewey wanted to be the oracle, the one and only, the sole source of what should be reported. If that was true earlier in Dewey’s career, the dapper New Yorker who has been widely-touted of late for being able to take advice and for being able to pick people who know how to advise, has had some good advice. If he should revert to methods such as Moscow describes, two things would happen: first, he would suffer; second, he would fail in his attempt, and the effects of the effort might be permanently disastrous. Some presidents have tried to conduct government by dis turbing the “checks and bal ances.” It never works long and the freedom of the press is one of the checks—a prin ciple that is part and parcel of the American concept of government. • A notable example of how the very weight of the news, legitimate news, breaks through any wall, was the case of the financial conference called by President Hoover just be fore the end of his regime—1931, to be exact. Hoover had no intention whatever of deceiving the public. He simply didn't understand that you couldn’t have a gathering like that without making an adequate explanation of some kind. At any rate just a bare announcement was issued. Free Frets It Bett Check The next day at the White House news conference. Hoover said he would not comment on the meeting (though the notice had appeared in the papers), and that he consid ered it the duty of the ijress not to print anything which was only par tially true, or else incomplete. Richard Oulihan of the New York Times, one of the most be loved and respected correspondents who ever covered Washington, and an outstanding leader, made a typ ically dignified, but very emphatic protest then and there. He said it was out of the question to ask the reporters not to get as complete a story as they could. It was pointed out by another well-known reporter that the press would have to have the story, and the reporters would have to get it, regardless of the President’s wishes. The President refused at first, but the reporters insisted. Finally he agreed to give out an official state ment after the conference. I have known other examples of short-Uved gag rales. One which Secretary of the Treas ury Morgenthau tried to estab lish on the treasury. He issued an order that none of the treas ury officials could talk with newsmen. He might as well have told reporters net to read the market quotations. It failed. Legitimate news continued to be reported as it always had been. Franklin Roosevelt had, at one time, at least 80 per cent of the newspapers "against” him. He knew he couldn’t change their edi torial views by giving out news to their representatives. He also knew that if he tried to withhold news, the American people would be far less likely to support him. And be cause he understood the meaning of the freedom of the press, he wouldn’t have thought of trying. And he knew how to make it appear as favorable as possible. The most effective check in a democracy is not the first, second or third, but the fourth estate. An unenlightened public conceivably might elect a totally bad president and a totally bad congress which would establish a totally bad su preme court, but unless the press is gagged, the public in a democracy cannot be democratically unen lightened. NATURE . . . Eden (Nature Boy) Ahbex and his wife Anna frater nize with nature in their Holly wood home under a guava tree and display their brand new son whose name is Tatha Om, mean ing “one fully enlightened.” INTREPID STEEPLEJANE . . . That fabulous Mary, Mary quite con trary description might fit Mary Trapuzzano of Pittsburgh, Pa., who prefers to earn her living by doing a he-man’s job. Mary is shown climb ing a 100-foot tower which she is helping to dismantle in the Dravo corporation yards near Pittsburgh. She works for her dad and is as good as any male member of the crew. • BLOSSOMTIME . . . Dorothy Ma lone stands loaded to her shell like ears with chrysanthemums— also known as plain mums—in ob servance of national flower week November 7-14. The week is meant as a tribute to flowers and the happiness they bring. WHAT IRON CURTAIN? . . . Sgt. Ralph M. Felling, the G.I. who ran the Russian blockade of Berlin in his new automobile, demonstrates how he leaned out of his car, waved a road map and a “four-power” identification pass at a Russian sentry post and passed through the Soviet lines into the American sector of Berlin. He is the first American to have crashed the blockade since it was imposed last July. SPIRIT OF 76 . . . Walter Mor gan, 76 years old, of Fosston, Minn., realized a long-standing ambition to make a parachute Jump. He dropped from 1,800 feet, doing the first 900 feet in a free fall. Said he “enjoyed it im mensely.” PARCEL POST ... No worse for wear is this newborn infant who was found abandoned in a shop ping bag at the base of a veter ans’ memorial in Chicago. He apparently was unharmed by his exposure to sub-freezing (20-de gree) weather. TROUBLE IS HE’S INELIGIBLE . . . Any football coach might in- excused for going dreamy-eyed over the idea of getting a tackle the size of this Kodiak bear, which is what these members of Brown university’s gridiron staff are doing. This nine foot four inch stuffed specimen was presentee' to Brown by the' school’s Midwest alumni. Coach Rip Engle (second from If ft) probably is thinking that the bear would be a bear at backing up the line. ENDURANCE . . . Fred Vin- mont (left) and Bert Simons, both of Dallas, Tex., pose in the cockpit of the light plane in the attitudes they will assume alter nately while trying to establish a new endurance flying record. INVENTORS AND JETCYCLE .. . Sooner or later somebody was bound to come up with a jet-propelled bicycle, and here are the three teen age inventors from FaUs Church, Va., who did it. The contraption they designed can work up to a speed of IS miles an hour with Its single jet, but the boys now are working on a faster three-Je. Job. They are Heft to right) John Hunton, 16; Bobby Dent, 15. and Mad Walther, U. Famous Sons Arrested r^HIEF Justice Fred M. Vinson '^ l 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 III,” was the re- &y. The cop wrote the name down, then queried the third student. “What’s yours?” “Fred M. Vinson Jr.,” 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 was 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 Day,” 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. Instead the top brass ordered all the extra prints burned, and only two copies kept for the files. Since Cullen had gone ahead and ordered 48 prints, this made an expensive bonfire —paid for out of the taxpay ers’ pocket. Cost of the film alone tin t went up in smoke: $86,000. 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 Day.” But Cullen was in such a hurry to finish the air force picture first and scoop the navy 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 ■:j 4 $50,000 technicolor extravaganza of Bikini, called “Phantom Wings." This s(nelled 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 wafted so much of the taxpayers’ money: Cullen was promoted from colonel to brigadier general, and Gaylord—in spite of his first flop—' was placed in charge of filming the recent super-secret tests atEniwetok for the atomic energy commission. He was supposed to have finished 24 films by October 1; so far, has delivered only five. U. S. Arniy’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 oifly for the eyes of the top brass, the circular warned grimly that regulations governing the treatment of these prisoners were “not being com plied with.” “It is essential,” the air inspec tor general stressed, “that pris oners in solitary confinement on bread and water be given one full meal every three days and that medical authorities examine them daily. “Failure of medical authorities to perform the prescribed examina tion has, in the past, led to perma nent physical impairment.” THE GARBLE SISTERS “Did you read that Llandudno speech?” “No, I don’t pay much attention to what them Notre Dame football stars say.” / “This Llandudno is a place. Win ston Churchill made a terrific speech there. He warned French labor that any more strikes would be like insurrection and said every body working in an atomic bomb plant should answer yes or no whether he is a Copmunist.” “The situation is getting worse and worse. Do you think there will be a world war this sea son? “Not at present inflation prices. Nobody can afford it, net even under lend lease.” “Have you been following them Paris meetings at the Palaise de Chenille?” “No. I think we should follow our own styles and forget them Paris dress designers.” * “How are you going to vote in the coming election?” “I’m waiting for the next Hooper ratings on all the candidates. We should have a man in the White House who can hold his radio audi ence without a jackpot or free ice boxes.” “I can’t make up my mind wheth er to vote for Truman or Dewey. They’re both friendly to the Ameri can Indian. I suppose Truman will have to take the blame for the world series. It was permitted while he was in office.” • “What did you think of Satlra . being released?” “Those New York Yankee club owners don’t care who they fire as soon as the season ends.” ' “That was strange about Gen eral Marshall being rushed back to this co'Sntry for a talk with President Truman with Cleve land leading by three games to one, wasn’t it?” “What was it all about?” “There was some idea of send ing Boudreau to Moscow or someplace.” • “Did you see jvhere John L. Lewis had Lincoln's birthday named after him?” “Yeah, but he didn’t pitch that good. They got two hits off him.” “Are you seeing any football games?” “I seen the Cleveland-Yale game by video, that’s all. Veeck was too good for Yale. Shotton is pretty old but New Haven will keep him an- .other year.” —— « “The spy investigations at Washington have slowed down lately.” “Yeah. Alger Whittaker has sued Chambers Hiss and the winner sues Lizzie Bentley or somebody. Then if it turns out Moscow has the atom bomb We sue Vishinsky in a playoff.” “Do you think the Russians have the bomb yet?” “How can anybody tell until they cross-examine Tokio Rose.” • • • The American Chemical society reveals that it is now possible tc treat sawdust chemically so that it can be used as a substitute for cattle and poultry' feed. Somehow or other we are a little afraid of a pork chop with an oak flavor and a steak that has the taste of Oregon pine. Not to mention Junior’s com plain that he just got a splinter in his hand from an egg. • • • “Istanbul, Turkey.—The Na tional party, Turkey’s third po litical group, has joined in the sharp attack on ERP as ruinous to the country. It says the terms of the Marshall plan in fringe on Turkish sovereignty and encroach upon financial in dependence. ‘The government made serious errors in accept ing the terms of the latest loan which amounts to nothing,’ says a statement.”—News item. • The loan was one of 10 million for 90 days. It’s a dirty shame the way some of those European nations have to stand for American millions! * * * Pete, a hippopotamus at the Bronx zoo, just reached his 45th birthday. He attributes his long life to the fact he watches his diet, never having a bale of hay more than twice a day. • • • Stalin recently asked an Amer ican envoy to come up and have a cocktail with him any time. We will wager that Joe can shake up a drink so it will not agree with any body. • • • New York taxicab interests say the business is in a terrific slump. It is so bad they can hear a flag drop. • • • Scientists warn that there is not enough food in the world to go around. A lot of restaurants seem to have discovered this months ago, lettuce and beets excepted. • * • “Loyal Worker” beat “Why the Rush” at Saratoga recent ly, and the boss says it is mighty encouraging. CLASSIFIED DE PARTMENT BUSINESS & INVEST. OPPOR- *3.00 PROFIT IN 2 HOURS. No cost lixtor. mation. Sample. Instructions, $1 bill. 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