A Bouquet for Madam Secretary

Frances Perkins, first woman Cabinet member in U.S. history, last week made what might be her last speech as Secretary of Labor. Her theme was old; but, coming from her, it was new. Echoing one of Tom Dewey's prime campaign arguments, she suggested that the Government's dozen-odd labor agencies (NWLB, NLRB, NRLP, FEPC, etc.) be put back under the Labor Department.

After twelve years in her job, Madam Secretary was tired. Presumably, she had sent in her resignation many weeks ago; it had been gathering dust on Franklin Roosevelt's desk. For her successor the President was looking for somebody who probably does not exist: a man who will meet the specifications of both A.F. of L. and C.I.O., and get by Congress to boot.

In the light of her imminent retirement, political pundits began to reappraise the career of this small, plumpish woman who, in her unfashionable tricorn hat, has long bustled in & out of Administration councils. Most surprising opinion came from the Baltimore Sun's bitterly anti-New Deal Columnist Frank Kent. He wrote: "Far from being the worst Secretary of Labor we have had, good argument can be made that Miss Perkins is the best."*

The only faults Columnist Kent could find with Miss Perkins were that she has:

1) pampered labor, particularly the C.I.O.;

2) yessed the President continually;

3) made occasional silly statements. But what Cabinet officer, he asked, is innocent on these counts? He added: "Unpleasant as it is to say, apparently the basic reason for the long, sustained campaign against her is that she is a woman." Then looking gloomily ahead, as is his custom, Columnist Kent pinned a final decoration on Cabinet Member Perkins: "We could do a lot worse--and probably will."

The prospects included: trim, smart Anna Rosenberg, labor relations expert for WMC, who would replace Frances Perkins' unfashionable hats with modish millinery from Manhattan Hatter Sally Victor; the A.F. of L. Teamsters' droop-jowled old Daniel J. ("Uncle Dan") Tobin; War Manpower's Paul McNutt; ex-Pennsylvania Congressman James McGranery. And there was always able, Lincolnesque John Gilbert Winant, head of the International Labor Office since 1939 and now U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James's.

*Since the office was created in 1913, Secretary Perkins had only three competitors: the late William B. Wilson, Pennsylvania's James J. ("Puddler Jim") Davis, the late William N. Doak.

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