The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-03

The FCC's for the merger. Ray
c. Wakefield, one of its members,
is on record TO the effect not only
that it would vastly improve wire
service in the United States, but
that il would be a long stride to-
ward making this country the
communications center OF the
world
Phil Murray denounced the
scheme as Wall Street inspired. "
Other AGA officials agreed with
him. They were emphatic enough
when they got around to express
ing themselves, but they were a
trihe belated in doing so; the
plans already pending in congress.
One needs 10 be about 100 years
old to remember when the Western
Union was an alright monopoly in
the United States. I'm not ancient
enough myself to be personally IA
miliar with the merits Of the popu-
lar complaints made concerning II,
but ! can recall EN-.
Cussed Far and Wide.
II undoubtedly was the most
cuSsed-at institution in the whole
history Of our era Of practically un-
regulated big utilities In its par
ticular line it was. Of course, VIZ
tai necessity TO the entire Ameri-
can public, and 1t was accused Of
taking every imaginable advantage
of it-fnancially, as a convenience
and in every other detail.
Big and little alike, its customers
damned it without qualification.
Yet they were as dependent on 1t
as they were on the postoffice, but
with none Of the postoffice's limita-
tions. Yet they couldn't do any
thing about 1t not until the
Mackay family broke into the sit
uation with the organization Of the
Postal.
The Postal was just getting fair
ly ticking as I emerged upon the
journalistic scene, with news tele-
grams TO file from the South Da-
kota legislature to my home town
daily, so tnaIs now l know what
wire communications were like in
those days.
Telegraphic patronage simply
fell on the Postars neck and wept
with Joy and affection. 1t was out
after business and consequently
was especially accommodating. On
the opposite hand, the Western
Union, presumably scared by the
new competition, turned a whole
lot nicer, and Postal got the credit
for 1t, even in places where Postal
still was unavailable.
The distinction between EN- wore
of gradually, although personally
I've never quite survived the feel
ing that the Postal was a kind Of
benefactor Of the human race origi-
nally, and still is entitled 10 GER
tain amount Of consideration on
account Of il.
Is 1t explainsble, then, why an
old-timer isn't enthusiastic over
the return to the by-gone one-com-
pany system
II congress were TO decree that
telegraphy essentially is govern
mentally postal, as is done general
~ in Europe. that would be one
thing. Merging Western and Postal
into a single private corporation
again, however, Is something dif-
ferent.
AS a war measure, perhaps It's
logical.
How About After War:
But viii it lapse when the wars
over?
The same thing applies 10 a lot
Of these suggested industrial con-
solidations.
They'll make for emergency ef-
hciency, probably.
But will we ever get over EN- -
or recover from EN-, in subsequent
peacetimes. or are they here 70
stay forever ?-doctoring our whole
socio-economic- governmental sys-
TEN into something new entirely?
These Concentrated industries
will be DIs-assembled later, it's
assumed.
WILL they be
The whole question is