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WFO 161-2419 é The May 15, 1943, edition of the "Washington Star" contained an article entitled “ICKES and ROOSEVELT Criticized for Stand in ABE FORTAS Case", The article revealed Secretary ICKES and President ROOSEVELT were criticized in the House today by Representative HARNESS, Republican of Indiana, who said that they were endeavoring to oireumvent selective service routine in the case of ABE FORTAS, "Hitherto little known Under Secretary of the Interior", HARNESS, a member of a special subcommittee of the House Military Affairs Committee Shich was investigating draft practices, stated that FORTAS was "the young man who has recently achieved considerable prominence by reason of the strenuous efforts of his chief, Interior Secretary ICKES and President ROOSEVELT, to keep him out of military service, HARNESS stated that there was apparently nothing in FORTASt training and brief administrative experience to indicate’ he could fill the job of Under Secretary of the Interior any better, " if indeed, as well, as hundreds of more experienced men, well over the age for military service,” According to the artickte, HARNESS stated he was perfectly willing to accept at: face value the report that FORTAS was ready, for his own part, to resign his clvilian post and offer himself for induction. He said in fact, FORTAS was to be commended for his attitude and to be consoled for the official attitude which stood in the way of embarrassing him, He said the fault did not lie with FORTAS but with the administration policy, The "Times Herald" newspaper, Washington, D, C., edition of June 2, 1943, contained an article entitled "Appeal Against Deferment of 2 U., S, Aides Urged". The article revealed Major General LEWIS B. HERSHEY, director of the draft, was @ealled upon yesterday to appeal two draft deferments on behalf of the government. It was indicated that representative POREST HARNESS of Indiana, had urged the draft director to use the government's right 6f appeal against the deferment of ABE FORTAS, Under Secretary of Interior, and LEON H, KEYSERLING, General Counsel of the National House Agency. The "Times Herald" newspaper, Washington, D, C., edition of November 12, 1943, contained an article by FRANK C, WALDROP, under the heading "A Little Prediction", In the article -~-9-