, 1935-02-15
The World
At a Glance
BY LESLIE EICHEL
Central Press Staff WRITER

CLEVELAND, o., FEB. 15.-When
Is a merger of corporations a spur
TO competition-and when isn't It?
That is a question paramount in
Cleveland and all the steel region
al present.
1t is a question that interests lib
erals and radicals as well as hard
Shelled conservatives. Strangely
enough, the liberals hereabouts line
up with the conservatives against
the government on the issue.
The issue a brought up by a
suit OF the feoeral government TO
prevent a merger of the Republic
Steel corporation and the Corrigan,
Mckinney STEEL company.
Suit was filed also against the
directorate, which the government
charges is i~nterlocking. The direc-
tors are the cream Of Cleveland
financleTs.
The officers Of the two companies
assert their merger would build up
a corporation rather than TO
Strangle IL, a. the government
charges under the Clayton anti
trust ect.
Liberals agree-but. OF course. 20
much further than the f~inanciers.
Liberals and radicals would have
elimination OF all minor COMPETE
ton. But the great monopoly that
would result they would have the
government W outright-eSpecial-
~ IN such a vita! industry as steel.
In brief. the ultra-liberals would
eliminate the financiers whom they
call Speculatori, altogether-both are
very much in favor Of mergers.
Pity the Police
Police. flremen. hospital workers
and other public servants have been
travelling a difficult road these past
few years.
Cleveland police and firemen re-
ceived their first pay this year a
few days ago. IL was IN scrip. And
Il was for only the first two weeks
IN January. The pay also was at
an old cut rate instead Of a re-
stored normal pay.
As IL that we're not enough. old
Old Guard Republican Mayor L.
Davis Is trying TO raise a campaign
fund TO put through a deficiency
bond issue for the city. And who do
YOU suppose are invited TO on
tribute TO that fund? You have
guessed correctly-the public Serv-
anteS who have just been paid off
in scrip.
Rumor has II that the "contribu-
ton from police is expected TO be
from S. to Sl5 each. according to
the rank.
Meetings are being held in Cleve-
land To determine how TO return TO
the city manager plan so blithely
voted out. This time the sentiment
Is 10 20 even further-to have a
county manager plan, too.
Politics
Not all Democrats elected in the
last election m New Dealers.
Martin L. Davey. new governor OF
Ohio. Is OF the old politician type.
OF which several were elected in
various states.
Complaint here is that Davey, pat
terning after Jim Farley, Is diSplac-
ing efficient men and women in
state offices withhold political wheel
horses.
"Purging"
There Is no reason for the public
TO cheer the "purglng" OF Brain
Trusters from the AAA.
AS a matter Of fact, several Of the
men recently displaced have been
very efficient. hard workers, the
only men in their particular depart
mentS TO look after the public'S
interests.
Their chief crime was that they
stood In the way Of the politicians
and the pork barrelers."
The Roosevelt administration. in
some departments. is becoming as
bad As Old Guard state adminlstra-
tons.
Ickes
How Long Secretary Of the Interior
Ickcs ar hold the fort against the
pork b~arrelerS" is a question.
Not only are venal interests at
lacking IckeS constantly. but pork
barrelers" in yearly ever state as
well as in congress are bombarding
him.
"A public works ma in Cleveland
told me today that orders now had
come 10 draw up Specifications on
a private contract basis. In short,
public works are to become a source
Of profit TO a horde Of private con-
tractors-unlesS the public comes TO
the defense Of the beleaguered Ickes.
No. 2 Man
II evidently is a sacrifice TO be-
come No ? man 70 President Roose-
welt. AT least, that IS the way Of
ficeholders look at it.
Whether Donald r. Richberg can
survive the fire Of organized labor
IS doubtful. Richberg may remain
with the government, but one OF
these days somebody else will be
speaking for the White House on
labor and otner matters.
Raymond Moley and Gen. Hugh
Johnson may force vry smiles over
this.
The strongest me in a govern
ment are the silent men who exert
power quietly. Vice President Gar.
ner can give i few tips on this.
In England II Is No / man who
gets the brickbats at present II Is
said that the Tory government
keeps the defunct Labor.te. Ram
say Macdonald in as prime min
lister 20 draw the fire while the Old
Guard Conservatives manipulate be.
hind the scenes.