The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-23


 It consisted of the view pri- vately voiced by some of the most important party leaders present that in the final showdown none of the present candidates will get the prize.
 The 1886 O, Q. P. banner carrier in the opinion of these politicos, will be a man whose name has 50 far not been mentioned. Dark Horse
 No clue to the identity of the mysterious dark horse was given. In fact, 1t was specifically stated that the view was largely dope" l" But the tip was to watch for the elnergence of a boom for . prom- inent business figure in the next few months.
 What makes the matter addi- tionally intriguing is the fact that the very same theory re garding the republican nominee Is held in the inner White House circle.
 Some of the presidents clos- est advisers are firmly convinced that none of the aspirants now seeking the c. 0. P. nomination will get it and that a dark horse will be named at the Cleveland con- vention. The only point on which they differ with the republican dopesters is on the type of the candidate.
 Owen D. Roberts
 The New Dealers believe that he will be 8 member of the sue prenae court, and the name they mention most frequently is that of Justice Owen D. Roberts.
 Roberts has several times de- nied emphatically that he was Q candidate, or would accept the nomination if rendered.
 Administrationites refuse to be convinced. They point out as highly significant the fact that in no split decision of the su- preme court this term has Rob- erts sided with the three liberal justices - Stone, Brandeis and Cardozo.
 Mike Meehan
 In spite of the dryness of the subject, large crowd gathers daily in the hearing room of the securities exchange commission to listen to the grilling of Michael Meehan, Wall street operator acc cused of elevating Bellanca avia- tion stock to extreme heights and then letting it drop.
 "Just call me Mike," an- n0unced the red-faced, sandy haired Meehsn to Referee WiI- liam Green on the first day.
 Green, large and smiling, nodded and pulled out a cigar, scratching a match on the wall 8 few feet from 8 "No Smoking sign, whereupon the assembly of fifty lawyers, SEC observers and newsmen pulled out cigarettes and pipes and settled down to informality.
 Matt Frank, described as Meehan's bookie, brought smiles as he pleadingly told the bench: T don't know, Jack, you can search me. I don't re- member"
 Calling a presiding official at a legal proceeding Jack" is sone- thing new in Washington juris- prudence.
 Work-Relief Probe
 The administration has been quietly tipped off by friends on Capitol Hill that an investiga- tion of Harry Hopkins and his $4,000, ,000, ,000 relief fund is due at the coming session.
 The warning was no surprise. The relief program has been un- der heavy fire for months and New Dealers have taken 1t for granted that when congress re- convened the political opposition would demand public airing of the way the money has been spent.
 In fact, the administration hasn't waited for the launching of the attack, but already has started a counter offensive.
 That is the inside explanation for the current barrage of speeches by Harry Hopkins and his lieutenants explaining and justifying the works progress administration.
 Tn formulating their defense, WPA chiefs have divided the crit- icism into four general classes. The criticisms plus the official answers follow:
 "Boond0ggling'
 FIRST CHARGE - That large sums of money have been vast ed on "boondoggling."
 To this WPA replies with the following accounting of how the 41, COG, ,OO0 allocated for work relief activities is being spent:
 10 per cent public buildings. schools, hospitals, courthouses.
 30 per cent city streets.
 10 per cent country roads.
 9 per cent water and sewer systems.
 10 per cent parks and play- grounds.
 6 per cent flood control.
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