NEW YORK: He Called Me a Guinea

The Kierans are an active family. John writes sports for the New York Times, and knows all once a week on radio's Information Please; Leo writes aviation for the Times; Larry works in the Manhattan Surrogate's office; Helen Kieran Reilly writes detective stories. And there is James M. Kieran, moody, outspoken, firm in his leftish ways, who until last week was Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's press secretary at $5,400 per year.

Last week hot-tempered Mayor LaGuardia announced that he had fired hot-tempered Jim Kieran. "He called me a guinea* -----------," said the Little

Flower. "What else could I do?" City Hall ferrets had their own idea of what the row was about: Franklin Roosevelt's devoted friend Jim Kieran was outraged "because the Mayor lately has buttered up Herbert Hoover.

Impulsive Mr. LaGuardia quickly regretted his anger, tried to get word to Jim Kieran that all was forgiven. The other Kierans said they had no idea where Jim was. Friends thought they knew. When the Kierans let their Irish get the better of them, they generally retire to Helen's Connecticut farm to cool off.