The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-05
rNi1l|laq5a,
Washington, ID. C.
LITTLE BUSINESS

LITTLE BUSINESS
The President has on his desk a
confidential report that would warm
the heart Of the defense-harried lit
tie business man if he could read it.
Submitted by Lowell Mellett, one
of the passion for anonymity" White
House secretaries, following care
full survey in 35 states, the memo
randum by inference severely criti-
cizes OPM and war department ham
ding of defense contracts.
Mellett found that little business
generally is bitterly disguised with
the whole defense administration, is
convinced that it is being run by
big business and corporation law
yers, and is up in arms politically
about the matter. Mellett warns
that the administration had better
do something about the situation
and do it fast or it will be just too
bad in next years crucial congress
sional elections.
A long list of specific grievances
are detailed in the report: Little
firms are excluded from defense
orders in favor of big competitors,
even though there was no difference
in their prices. Endless run-arounds
from OPM and army brasshats be-
cause the little business men had
no ''in'' with the big shots. Small
manufacturers put out Of business
by the priority system which en-
ables big concerns with defense con-
tracts to hog supplies of raw ma
terials.
Mellett also implies that the Divi-
sion of Contract Distribution, estab-
lished several months ago to help
little business, has so far accom-
plished very little in the way of re-
suits. Small business is still out in
the cold when it comes to getting an
equitable share of defense work.
The gist of the report is an old
story to the President. For months
others have been telling him the
same thing, although not so COM
prehensively and effectively. The
creation of SPAB and the Contract
Distribution division was an effort
to remedy the situation. But these
agencies are manned with the same
type Of executives who have been
running the defense program from
the start-big business men.
There isn't one little business man
among them.
7. ~" Lone Refuge.
In fact, in all Of Washington there
is only one place where little bust
ness man is functioning in behalf
of small business.
That is in the justice department,
where trust-busting Assistant At
torney General Thurman Arnold has
set up Small Business section and
installed as its head a genuine little
business man.
He is Guy Holcomb, a strapping,
two-fisted Atlanta filling station OPP
orator, who has never had a pub
lie job before, hates redtape, and
loves nothing better than to tangle
with q brasshat who is pushing
around q little fellow.
Operating from a cubby-hole Of
fee, with only secretary as his
assistant, and without fanfare and
noopia' noicoinD ~ 'le inonsn nc mas
Deen iunc..onas ameauy mas 90
chaiheu up al, LIP , eSSive Iecolo 90
= uelelloes " n.ue business n:en'
ne nas ~. alsn. 49,, .sa os.s, suIns,
ana en'ry " oilicisi oooiS previously
ci4seo. ,:..,. .
= you are n'.ie business nial
anu ats navns ueieise MoLuaes'
aoicon.D ~, - =. .ne o.ie man E IA wasi Ss
Ton 70 Ten mem 70. T.. ne ., may NO: Ds
aDae ~ nelp yUu, W. ns = ~. .y
NY. lneie VIII VIC iio 'o'iip'aii' VA
'na' score.
,,,u, c.r,,rs u,,rv-v
~. nIM IAN 20 AonA
Inc .eportso new tencn nooAup
wan iitier comes $3.50 q. an eSpecians
Dao tnne iot ule D.l.is sIl-wicn III III
oouDteoly Is why 'ns Nazis put III ..ls