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The arch-Republican New York Herald Tribune next day hastened to Mr. Lawrence's side with the cry: ''[Mr. Roosevelt] is showing again the Roosevelt who can't 'take it' — the man who when he meets with criticism is moved by the desire to crush his critics by means foul or fair." To this the loudly pro-Roosevelt New York Post responded : "No President in American history has 'taken' more and taken it with better grace than Franklin D. Roosevelt. . . . But let one breath of criticism be directed at these three pompous commentators, and they rush to hide behind the petticoats of 'freedom of the press.' "
Without comment Frank Kent continued to criticize whatever he disapproved in the Roosevelt regime. Venerable Mark Sullivan took oblique notice of the controversy when he placidly explained : 'Congress is meant by the Constitution to be a 'noman' to the Executive. . . . The Democratic leaders within Congress . . . renounced that role in the early weeks of the Administration. ... In the lack of any other satisfactory 'noman' . . . the Press has this obligation to an exceptional degree."
*Dozens of ex-newshawks are employed by the Government to write press handouts and statements in which all the "color" is entirely in favor of the New Deal.
* Of Mr. Michelson's Republican competitor, GOPressagent Theodore Huntley, Columnists Drew Pearson & Robert Allen last week told an astonishing tale which Washington accepted is true in spirit, if not in fact. Greeting at his office Malcolm W. (''Bing!") Bingay, who left the Detroit news five years ago to edit he Detroit Free Press, Mr. Huntley said: "How do you do, Mr. Bingay—how are you and how's the Detroit News?" Editor Bingay's Free Press has for several years conducted a running Ight with Radiorator Charles Edward Coughlin. but Pressagent Huntley's next conversational ambit is reported to have been: "Mr. Bingay, our paper must have influence with Father Coughlin. Why don't you get him to open up on Roosevelt and the New Deal?" Mr. Huntley is then supposed to have led dismayed Editor Bingay into the office of Republican National Chairman Henry Fletcher, who heartily greeted him with: "Glad indeed to see you, Mr. Bingay. It is always nice to welcome folks from Wisconsin!"