Evening star., 1938-01-01
Ickes Speech
Changes Made by Secretary of Interior Just Don't
Make Sense Saws Writer.

Detroit News, Mr.. Jay G. Hayden,
loyal to the local gods of his city,
spoke up. He called Mr.. Roosevelt's
attention to the fact that Mr.. Ickea
and Mr.. Jackson had mentioned these
names, and asked Mr.. Roosevelt
whether he thought these manu-
facturers were deliberately bringing
about a depression, as MIR. Ickes and
Mr.. Jackson charged.
That question took the President
by surprise. But he smiled, and again
did some quick foot work-in a back
ward direction. He said he guessed
he would just leave the parable as he
had stated it.
Reversing Itself?
About the speeches of Mr.. Ickes and
Mr.. Jackson and the Presidents atti-
tude toward the subject they covered,
much will be said. I listened to Mr.
Ickes' speech and read Mr.. Jackson's
Their subject was monopoly. Monopoly
means restraint of competition. There
is, in certain fields, restraint of COM
petition. And many Of the most
thoughtful persons in the country
think the Roosevelt administration has
made a continuing mistake for five
years in not insisting upon competi-
ton. The principal economic policy
of the New Deal has been to foster
monopoly, indeed TO insist on mono
poly in many fields. Their policy has
been to promote restraint of produc-
ton and to proAote high prices. They
have done it deliberately, blatantly.
They have proclaimed it, have told
us that that was the path to economic
happiness. They have promoted
monopoly and high prices in the
bituminous coal trade by the Guffey
Coal Act. They have done it in a
hundred industries through N r. A.
If, now, the administration has re-
versed its policy and is going to pro-
mote competition, many economists
will be pleased by the change.
Doesn't Make Sense
But the beginning Mr.. Ickes and
Nh. jackson have made is in strange
quarter. When they mention Mr..
Henry Ford and General Motors in
connection which implies they don't
practice competition. it Just doesn't
make sense. Mr.. Ford is about the
most vigorous anti-monopolist in the
United States. He has always fol-
lowed a policy of not agreeing with
his competitors about anything. He
has steadily refraincd from even join
ing the trade association of the auto
mobile industry There are places
where the Roosevelt administration
can find monopolistic practices. but
the automobile industry is about the
last place to look
The further implication in Mr. Ickes'
speech was that certain big business
leaders are practicirg a strike, that
they are deliberately slowing down
production in order to create business
recession and thereby discredit the
administration. That was the heart
Of Mr.. Ickes' charge He seems TO
think the business leaders are prac-
tlclng Chinese custom-committing
suicide on their enemvs doorstep.
Does Mr.. Ickes think Mr.. Ford and
General Motors and the other automo-
bile manufacturers would not make
all the automobiles there i. sale for?
If Mr.. Ickes wants to find out whether
the automobile manufacturers are not
trying to sell all the cars they can, let
him try an experiment. Let him say
he thinks OF buying a new car. Let
him just emit a Wordless sigh, a mere
inner aspiration, for new car. His
Office will be SO crowded with automo-
bile statesmen that he won't have time
to make any more speeches about lack
of competition.