The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-05-24

fact that deceptive newspaper articles, in matOerS re-
%tnp to Montana's economics and government are o'
informative and tend to confuse everyone, lnciuus
Vose in attendance at educational institutions, WHICH
are maintained at public COST involving mllOns VI '"4
money every year. Newspapers should De maoe pa
of our educational institutions. Newspaper instruction
in everyday economics would equip Montana students
for their world struggle better than any speca course
of study This statement should be analysed by par
ents whose future happiness may depend upon 1ie
mental development of their children who today are
deprived of anything to read, that is substantially III
structive aside from their text books.
The newspapers of today only serve the offending
pubshers as means of extortion, of excessive dlv-
dends and of eecting and re-eectng monopoly owned
public officials.
The trust-owned newspaper inquiry, in progress,
together with attendant exposures prompt our sugges
ton that at this, propitous time, there may be mani
festaton of keen public interest should some patrotc
enterprising Montanan take the lead in the advocacy
of daily newspaper to be published in the interest OF
this state and her people, and to be supported by legl
innate subscribers and advertisers. Such newspaper
would be means of reducing the rate schedules OF
the monopolies and the publication cost would be sew
era times less than the amount which represents the
difference between reasonable rates and the extortion
ate demands now suffered by the public. And an equ
table adjustment of utility rates would be accompanied
by equalization Of taxation
them their extortionate rate schedules and their low
the greatest offenders are in the order named the
railroads. the telephone and the Montana Power These
are consuming producers and surfeted at the
troughs of the farmer the stocgrower, and the min
er including the A. C. M. The A. c. M Company,
while tax-dodger is great producer, and by reason
thereof better able TO bear the blame for favortsm
in governmental affairs than its sister beneficares
which are solely and essentially parasitical The ex-
cessivey high dividends enjoyed by these nonproduc-
ing nonresident dependent upon the ability
of their political leader the A c. M, to maintain for
Them their etorionate schedules and their low
taxation valuations.
By Montanans the political ability of the A. c. M is
thought of in connection with that Companys power in
this state In Wall Street, however where political
funds, including newspaper deficits provided for
the A. c. NJ the railroads, the telephone the Montana
Power and all utility monopoles one, and only one
and are politically and financially, nseparabe 1t is
equally true too that without the strong backing and
cooperation of its sister offenders, the A. c. M coult
not WELD the big stick alone, and in her Il
the exclusion of Others
In their struggle for political supremacy, and to re
gain control of their state Montanans will learn wher
their ship of patriotism is launched that their form
liable antagonist is Wall Street. and that he A. C. M
is only spoke in the wheel.
If he did nothing else, Mr. Clark advertised extern
svey that the copper press ownership (he should hav
said Wall Street ownership of newspapers consists
the Montana Standard The Anaconda Standard, tn
Helena Independent, the Helena Record Herald, tn
Misouan the Missoula Sentinel the Livingston Enter
prise the Butte Daily Post and the Billings Gazette
If this great chain of costly newspapers is indirectly
profitable to the Wall Street owners, an experiment
would disclose with certainty, that newspaper main
tanned by the public, would be equally profitable, ind
rectly, to Mortanans. 1t is undeveloped mind, W
submit, that thinks that Montana will go forward an
progress in commensurate with her resource;
if her people must look through the spectacles Of
speak through the organs of Wall Street
Let us have statewide, publicly supported newspa
per publication.