Evening star., 1944-04-02
B1icker a Normalcy' Candidate
Carries Carefully Hoping Deadlock Will Bring Nomination
Ry p

ent for New York Republican paper
decided in fairness to the two candi-
dates to devote an equal amount of
space to Dewey's and Bricker's press
conferences. He could not, however,
carry out his plan, because, as he ex-
planned it, when he went over his
voluminous Bricker notes, he found that
for every apparently definite statement
on controversial issue there was a
neatly balanced statement to the con-
trary.
This writer had similar experience
in his personal interview with Bricker.
In his Press Club speech Bricker had
said that he favored withdrawal of all
Government competition with private
industry. THE Government" he said
pontifically, should not compete with
its own citizens"
The first question put to the Gov
ernor on this statement was: I'm view
of your Press Club remarks about Gov
ernment competition in business, what
would you do, if President, with the
Tennessee Valley Authority"
Bricker talked volubly for a time
about the extent of IVA activities, the
amount of money invested and the gen.
eral undesirability of Government own
ership. but did not answer the question,
SO it was put to him again. Again he
discussed IVA and privately owned
utilities, but still gave no direct answer
At the third try, this writer finally got
the impression that while Brickler is
against Government ownership and op-
Grafton of iva in principle, he probably
would not seek to turn it over to private
ownership, but would not let it expand
Policy Up to Congress.
Questions designed to elicit the candi-
dates view on postwar international
organizations, reciprocal trade agree
ments, Government regulation such as
the Securities and Exchange Commits
sion, the abolition of unnecessary Gov
ernment bureaus, brought similar bal
anced or vague replies. Space limita-
tions prevent the publication of ques-
tions and answers so this writer can
present only his own surmises Of Brick
er's probable action, if elected Presi-
dent.
Bricker would not be strong execu-
tive" but would leave policy making up
to Congress.
He would not take personal, aggres-
sive leadership for American participa-
ton in postwar international organ
ization to maintain the peace but would
rely on the best advisers he could find.
At present he Is standing on the Macki-
nae Island declaration, which satisfied
the nationalists more completely than
the internationalists, and he repeatedly
emphasizes that he is opposed to any
supergovernment" He told the re-
porter that he would draft" the best
informed man on international affairs
for Secretary OF State. It was later re-
ported that the man he has in mind is
Senator Taft OF Ohio.
He would try to reduce governmental
expenses. At present he cannot say
where or how.
He would encourage business and pri-
vate initiative, probably through re-
duction of taxes on venture capital and
new enterprises.
Would Seek to Decentralize.
He would try to decentralize the
Federal Government by putting more
responsibility on local authorities. He
declines to enumerate the Federal bu-
reaus he would abolish.
In his formal speeches Bricker is not
above presenting distorted picture by
Withholding the whole truth This is a
debater's trick, which is supposed to be
fair in politics but is not conducive
to intelligent voting. At the Press Club
and in subsequent speeches Bricker de-
clared and repeated that Ohio had only
20,600 State employees, while the Fed
eral Government had 111,O00 employees
in the State. He usually points out
that nationally the Federal Govern
ment has over 100000 civilian en-
ployess Sometimes he points out that
his State government has not asked for
a single draft deferment for its en-
ployes, while the Federal Government
has asked for quite a few
These statements are technically true.
The Civil Service Commissions latest
report, however, shows that the Fed
eral Government had 126OO0 civilian
employees, not Ill 900 in Ohio But of
these, $4,000 were employed by the
Army, 1000 by the Navy and 1000 by
such emergency agencies as the WPB