Jaunty Jim Farley, whose genial optimism and bulky presence were so much in evidence during the last campaign was labeled recently by Mr. A. A. Berle, young intellectual and late member of the Brain Trust, as "not a particularly brilliant politician." Further he stated that Mr. Roosevelt was for the most part his own manager in the presidential campaign and that had Mr. Farley "Gone fishing for flounders" the outcome would have been the same.

Unfortunately for the administration, blundering Jim's activities in the past few months have caused remarks similar to those made by Mr. Berle to be made not only by those who would naturally be opposed to the administration, but by persons close to the administration and others who have the interests of the Democratic Party close at heart. His backing of the McKee faction in New York and its subsequent failure, his cancellation of the airmail contracts and the doubtful wisdom of such a move, and his restriction of mail delivery with the concomitant censure it elicited, have made people doubt his ability as an administrator and politician. His sudden reversals of policy, moreover, have given his activities a tinge of opportunism that is distasteful to one who likes to see certain definite policies adhered to and carried out with conviction.

If Jim Farley wants to keep his hands on the reins of the Democratic Party machine he must learn to exercise less initiative and to take his cues from others closer to the White House. His presence in the past few months has proved more than once embarrassing to the administration, and may be unnecessary in the next campaign when Franklin D. Roosevelt appeals again to the electorate for support of his policies.