Industry analysts differ in their opinions on whether the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice will permit the merger of Maytag Corp. and Whirlpool Corp., the nation's largest and third-largest appliance manufacturers. Whirlpool has offered to buy Maytag for $1.79 billion, or $21 a share, and will assume Maytag's debt of $977 million, a deal that many analysts believe will give the new company more than 70 percent of the North American washer and dryer market. Stephen Calkins, Wayne State University law professor and former Federal Trade Commission attorney, says with the numbers in this proposed merger, there are reasons for grave concern.