The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-11-15

and know so little about? Why
do we hate it? Is it entirely bad,
entirely good, or partly good and
partly evil? l confess that can
not offhand give a definition of it
that is clear even to myself. Gaug-
ing my neighbors by my own
knowledge, l think if any of them /.
were asked what it means, she or |
he would wish several days to ans
wer the riddle. We worship catchy |
words, or hate correspondingly un-
pleasant phrases, of which we have !
forgotten or never knew the mean
ing. We have gone to war for the !
jir gle Freedom of the Sets" 1t /
meant the right of our New Eng
land merchants 1875 years ago to
get rich supplying Napoleon with
munitions to conquer Europe with
out seaIch or seizure by the allies
of our ships. We would know bet
ter now. yet it is still a grand old
jingle of words for politicians to
raise a war with
Perhaps Fascism is the final
struggle of the worn out system
of production for profit to live in
a world now contemplating on a
vast scale a partly successful new
system of production for the use
and benefit of the toiling masses.
Ny definition may be Incomplete.
Some reader may think of better
one. Fascism has no hatred of
American institutions. Italy and
Germany ale not in fomet again
st US as they are against Russia.
We are rot basically yet opposed
to Mussolini or to Hitler. While
some recationaries froth at the
mouth about our diplomatic re-
lations with Russia, nobody sug-
gests breaking with Italy or Ger
many. The plan of Germany and
Italy to conserve capitilism at all
hazards is still agreeable to the av-
erage American. The methods a.
dopted by the Fascists in carryin G
out the plan are sharply criticized
by our press, but similar methods
are everywhere present in our owl
country and condoned or praised.
Fascism may be called a relapse
into barbarism contempt fer intel
lectual progress and defeat of j
by resort to brute force, after re
sort to ancient legal formulate
no longer keeps power IN the hand
of the property owning class.
Democratic principles must b
limited to personal relations, the
must not invade business or tn
right of industrial overlords to ex
plot the masses is prime promis
of the faScists. Any such invasio
will be fought by the Have it ALI
first in Courts by resort to an
contortion of old legal formularie
that were enacted to apply to othe
conditions.
For instance, in Montana ii
people last year were convince
that rates for water, light, powe
gas, communication and transpo
tation were far. too high. By g
imposing majority they electt
Jere. OpConnell to the Board
: Public Utilities on the promise tn
: he would urge vigorously and vo
steadily for substantial reducti'
of all these rates. O'Connell b
kept his promise faithfully and b
gained an ally, getting control
!. the board and at the next electi'
s by Pilgerami's defeat of Leona
: Young, will be a member Of
board unanimous for the reducti
of rates. Countless orders ha
been made by the Board reduei
rates in Butte, Baker, Heller
Glendive, Missoula and elsewhe
None are yet in effect.
g Fascism has resorted first to &
. cient formularies. If it fails the
L it will resort to fraud, buying ID
y iislatures and other servants
II the people. If it fails there, it v
n resort to force, the man on hor
= vack, the Dictator
Board reducing rates is tied up
$, Every order except one, or
d some order Of the Federal Coul
a. We still believe in the jingle
a words, "Rights of Sovereign 81
es." There are none in Amel
H. that can stand before the pen G
n Federal judge, conjuring to act
Do by a corporations smooth couI
of lor privately in chambers. By
= smirk of the face and the litter
Us of an old formulary, the inal
MT able ga rights of the masses
indefinitely postponed Of en-
ment. In Chicago the Courts n
preliminary order that o
charges. of the Telephone Comp
be held in court until final d.
.ro ion. The fund grew to Sc mil
= dollars. The company finally
we Many of the customers from W
nd this had been gouged by the l
ro- delays were dead. Judge Bali
of Montana recently refused
make such a preliminary ol
en- Ny notion is that he is the
tai Federal judge to do so.
ed Fascists of the Democratic
ase ty conjure with the name of
ferson. Fascists of the Repub
-. party use that of Lincoln.
1ue jefferson said, "The Ideal
eW eminent would insure the gre
Its good to the greatest number o
ion Governed
oy- Lincoln stript the same idea
on ed for the dull to see.
Labor is prior to and indt
dent of capital. Capital is onl!
fruit of labor, could never hav
listed, if labor had not first eN
Labor is the superior OF ca
and deserves the higher consi'
ton"
ian Webster predicted 100 year!
ear the present grim disaster 70
- ing fast and following ia
anu throughout this nation becaus
ms. have not needed the teaching
to- Jefferson and Lincoln "The
hat est government canot long e.
90 when the tendency of the L
- to create a rapid accumulate
nan the hands of a few and to +
the masses poor and depend
Daniel Webster.