Archer Winged

A prime Democratic archer during the last Republican Administration was bushy, grey Charles Michelson. oldtime newshawk who became National Committee Publicity Director in 1929 while Jim Farley was still a boxing commissioner. So effectively did he bulls-eye his arrows, after dipping them in pure vitriol, that gasping Old Guardsmen cried out in anguish against Charley Michelson's "Smear Hoover" campaign. When the New Dealers rode into power he was called in to explain them to the country. He smoothed press relations during the Bank Holiday. He wrote speeches trying to sell NRA. In fact, he was supposed to write all the good speeches for the President, his Cabinet, his leaders.

Last week the archer's arrows rebounded. Observers could envisage what scorn Charley would have called up if, in 1931, he had caught a Republican in his own shoes, for Charley had just announced that, while retaining his inside Democratic post, he was accepting a $200-a-week contract as publicity "adviser" to the Crosley Radio Corporation. The contract stipulates that he shall not appear before any Government Commission.

Nevertheless, the Scripps-Howard New York World-Telegram solemnly warned: "The New Deal Can't Afford This ... it is not illegal but it certainly is improper. ..." Newshawks recalled that Charley's client's Station WLW ("The Nation's Station") is currently in bad grace with some members of the all-powerful Federal Communications Commission, particularly Commissioner George Henry Payne. But WLW got a routine extension of its increased power grant just after it hired Charley Michelson.

The revelation of these facts by Washington correspondents made as much impression on Charley Michelson as a shadow at high noon. In last week's White House press conference he sat glumly as usual at Franklin Roosevelt's right hand. To his poker-playing pals in the Press Club, to whom he consistently loses $50 a month, he seemed not to mind. Not even they could figure why Charley wanted another pay check. A widower with one son, his $25,000-a-year from the Democratic National Committee seemed ample. Charley the Mike, his pals figured, must be just plain bored with so few Republicans to bend his bow at.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.