Nogales international., 1940-01-13
Bricker Delights The Big Shots

GOVERNOR JOHN w. BR1CKER of Ohio n e
~ scarcely concealed choice Of the big business ee-
ments in the Republican party for the presidential
nomination, made labored defense before the Onlo
Society of New York of his policy of letting unenl-
poyed citizens of his State suffer hunger and prva-
ton while he piled up surplus in the State treasury
Although thousands in Cleveland, Toledo and other
Ohio cities victims OF malnutrltlon the g1st OF
Governor Brickers speech that there was no re-
lief crisis Mayor Burton Republican mayor OF Cleve-
land relief workers and newspapers say there is ur-
gent need for funds to feed those without work or
money but Governor Bricker intent on economy
program to delight the big shots and with the nomlna
ton for President dangling before his eyes, could SIT
at sumptuous feast in New York and ignore the stu
alton
The false conclusion he arrived at was supported
bv big array of misrepresentation and misstate-
ments Governor Bricker accused the Federal GoV-
ernment Of increasing WPA employment IN Cleve-
land during the 1888 elections for political purposes
The fact is that the increase in Cleveland started IN
the winter of 1937-38 long before the campaign and
was due to bad economic conditions by which Cleve-
land was particularly hard hit Increases made
in other Midwest cities for the same reasons.
That the increase was not made in Cleveland for po
itca purposes evidenced by the circumstances that
it was made upon facts presented by the Republican
mayor and Republican city council OF Cleveland ana
accompanied by their urgent requests for ald Every
person employed by the WPA certified by the Re
publican controlled Cleveland relief administration.
And while Democratic candidates complained that
Cleveland Republicans were using the WPA for par
tisan advantage not single complaint was MADE Dy
any Republican candidate that the WPA was being
used by the Democrats investigation showed also that
at no time did Mayor Harold Burton show the slight
est inclination to use the WPA for political ends
Governor Brickers charge that thousands were put
into WPA employment who did not come from direct
relief rolls is true technically The for it was
that because of the sudden unemployment of large
numbers an agreement reached with city officials
and the Cleveland Relief Administration that
ployed, able-bodied people found in need would be
certified to the WPA and be employed without first
having to be accepted as relief cases. since there
really no relief to be had.
Of the Bricker assertion that after the election
WPA employment was reduced, it is only necessary to
say that reductions in WPA employment from the
peak of 1888 made for just two obvious
increase in private employment and reduced appro-
priations for the WPA by Congress- Still the reduc-
tion in Cleveland was not great the 1893 increase
During the election campaign Of 1888 Governor
Brcker and his running mate for the Senate, Robert
A. Taft both demanded that the WPA be discontinued
and relief returned to the States The hungry, dis
tressed and unemployed in Ohio cities can see clearly
now what would have happened to them if they had
been delivered to the tender graces of Brcker and his
crowd The Governor sits with full treasury refs-
ing State aid to starving citizens and complains
against the Federal Government because the WPA
was for a while, for compelling reasons reduced in
Ohio Governor Brckers behavior in the hunger crisis
of the cities made evident that he was without com
passion; his forensic accusations reveal that he is al
without decent consistency
1T may appear like mans size job to any one
ese but to Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio candidate
for the Republican nomination for President of the
United States it's all very simple, this triflng mat
ter Of running the Federal Government He would
aid business and agriculture, which is what the New
Deal doing, only Senator Taft through some slegh
Of hand would do it without extension of government
activities One fears greatly that Senator Tafts plat
form sounds suspciously like, It's good job and I'd
like to get it, and very little ore' = Springficld
(T1,d