Evening star., 1935-04-01

Newspaper observers suspend tudg-
ment on the merits of the charges
exchanged between Federal Relief Ad-
ministrator Hopkins and Gov. Davey
of Ohio, but there is general agreement
on the necessity for a full airing and
in the belief that the incident is liable
to have important political repercus-
sions.
OF what has happened since the
Federal administrator took over con-
troll of relief in Ohio, the Columbus
Citizen says: He has acted to abolish
so superfluouS administrative jobs at
an initial saving of $4,000 month.
He has ordered county administrators
to take similar action in their own
offices-to get the chiselers of the
pay roll or be chiseled out yourself
He has ordered payment of relief al
lowances in cash instead of grocery
orders to all who desire 1t among the
million Ohio recipients of direct doles.
He has suspended administrative en-
ployes who are under fire in the pres
ent 'shakedown' investigation, pend
ing determination of the facts in the
case. He has, in seven days of hard.
intense work. applied himself to his
Job-the job OF keeping destitute
Ohioans fed. clothed ard sheltered
regardless of the politicians barrage
that whistles about his head"
What the President wants" says
the Cincinnati Times-Star. "the people
of Ohio want also. There have been
very serious charges from both sides;
light should be let IN from all direc-
tionS. In the meantime, elemental
Justice demands that the people of
Ohio shall not condemn their Cover
nor even under q direct charge from
the White House until much fuller
information has been furnished than
is available at the present time"
It is believed by the Akron Beacon
Journal that "the only hope Of the
charges being threshed out lies with
the grand jury and the Federal De-
partment Of Justice"
"The poor are the sufferers" says
the youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator,
"and President Roosevelt was right IN
stating that they must not be per-
mitted to become the innocent victims
of either corruption or political Chi
canery.' It should be added that from
now on the Governor should see that
politicians have o wholesome respect
for the relief administration and give
II a wide berth. The State and his own
reputation will benefit If he concen-
trates on doing good job and forgets
his political fences"
"Particular care" advises the Louis
vile Courier journal, 'fs imperative
for the protection of relief funds; be-
cause they are administered jointly
with the States and because great lati-
t,de necessarily is allowed State ad-
mtnistrators. It Is, to say the least,
significant when Democratic ma
tional administration takes issue with
the Democratic administration OF
politically important State like Ohio.
"The charges almost certainly VIII
have political repercussions in next
wears campaign" according to the
St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press. which
offers the advice: "The suggestion has
come from a number Of quarters In
the mast that the American Red Cross
should be the agency to handle the
Federal relief funds. That agency
has been called upon frequently to
deal with emergency situations arising
from floods and other disastrous con-
ditions. Its administration has never
been tainted with fraud. 1t has not
been charged with playing politics, nor
with waste and extravaganza"
The Christian Science Monitor COM
ments: I'm Ohio. the partisan chips