The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-11-22
Wings
OVER
.Washingt'n


oused, according to their publicity
agents: Politicians pick on them, /
It would APPEAR. They are perse- !
cuted and probed. They are even :
sentenced to death by a callous
congress and a Prosecuting presi-
dentl i
But through all this martyrdom, !
by some miracle, the utility COM
panies manage not only to sur
vlve but to prosper. ''They grew
fat and kicked" says a biblical
complaint about the chosen people.
The elect of American business
have varied the formula they
kick and grow fat, and the more
they kick the fatter they grow.
Now a Sir Galahad has ridden
forth in the guise of a fox-hunting
Baltimore judge, to rescue the vir-
GIN power trust from its self-pro-
claimed senterce of death. In pro-
nouncing the Wheeler-Rayburn
holding company act unconstitu-
tional. Federal Judge VIM. C. Cole
man OF Baltimore accuses Con-
gress of being grossly arbitrary, /
unreasonable and capricious." |
Coleman's decision was rendered |
just after the Federal Trade Com
mission had made public some Of /
the utilities campaign contribu- |
tons to the Republican and Dem !
ocratic parties. In the commits !
sion's report may be found the
KEY to the power trusts miracu-
louS martyrdom. It is the key
with which the maidenly magnates
lock themselves in a foul dungeon
with all modern conveniences)
scream their heads off to be res
cued, and then unlock themselves
at mealtimes or to enjoy other
creature comforts.
Sam Insult was impartial in his
political contributions. He gave
to Republicans and Democrats
alike in proportion as either could
be Of service to him In milking the
utilities. The lesser men who come
after him appear to be impartial
In the aggregate rather than in
dividually. The TIC. reports con-
tributions of s468, 900 by utility
bosses to the Republican party,
and Of S120,100 to the Democratic
party, In the 1924, 1928 and 1882
national campaigns. Less tickle
than insult, the individual execu-
tives appear to have divided up
their labor of love. One boss will
give one party, nowadays, while
another from the same corporation
will give to the other.
Harry Payne Whitney, director
Of the Montana Power Co., came
nearest to keeping up the insult
tradition. He gave $4,000 to the
Republican campaign fund in 1924,
according to the T. c., and $780,
600 to Il e Democrats in 1928. The
president Of the Montana Power
Co., John d. Ryan, preserved that
corporations impartial stance or
both sides Of the fence by a ges-
ture Of $1,000 to the Democratic
National Committee in 1924. In
1928, A. H. Virgins, director
gave a similar favor Of $1,000 tt
the Republican fund.
In 1924 the utility executives
bet $199,300 to $120,100 that the
Republican party would win. In
1928, their campaign betting
was sos, $50 for the Republi-
cans to $115,000 for the Demo-
Gratis.
But IN 1892, realizing that
their money would be wasted on
the hopeless Hoover campaign,
the power trust bosses cut down
their Republican national contri-
buttons to S64,520. To the rising
Democrats, if We should be so
unsuspecting as to take the Fed
trail Trade Commissions listing
without salt, it would appear
that the power trust gave not a
thin dime.
The commissions loyalty to
its president, however, seems to
be untempered by discretion.
While creating the impression
that Pres. Roosevelt was SO evil
IDENTIFY on the side of the public
that the utility barons would not
contribute to his fund, the FIT,
c. seemed not to realize that
others besides itself could CON-
pile figures from the records of
the Democratic National Com
mittee.
When Tilted by Democratic an
Republican gigolos, the pows
trust finds a sure haven Of rest an
forgiveness In the protecting arm
Of the courts. Returning to tn
martial bed and board, it points
the constitution as to a marriae
license.
That would appear to be Il
homely moral Of the utilities e.
pensive Irritation with politician
who gave a death sentence"
return for cash But again, and
gain, appearances are deceptiv
For twas only a lovers QUAR-
with the gigolos, and the allege
death sentence" was never mo-
than lot Of hooey-a strong nan
for a weak bill, Of mild effect {
the parasitic holding compani,
and Of little or none on utility pr,
fits.
Why Judge Coleman should n:
In such husbandly and protectir
wrath is another of those lit
mysteries that make the Dow
trust propaganda dramas so excl
ing. And as to political gigoio
We won't believe they've been la
on until we see their bills for Sc
vices rendered In next years r
publican and Democratic eamnaio