The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-08-21
Feed the World and Starve

The Montana Standard of the principal propaganda
sheets of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company operating
in the guse daily newspaper supposedly representing the
interests of the community and which is published
occasionally apses from its usually well disguised nsidous
method of expression do all the other PROSECUTING creeds
of the corporation at times
Ordinarily editorial writers prostituted their
talents and probably their prncipesf anyn the service
of the corporation Montana and elsewhere exercise
their editorial Subjects discuss matters which cannot
affect the public relations within the territory reached by
their respective papers They play safe perhaps exercise
caution than because comparatively few of
their readers scan the editorial columns and they would not
be missed if something else carried in their place
the all follow the regular pattern of
editorial expressions. And while the edi-
tora writer goes hay wire and writes something has
bearing and then the editorial Immediately
ders into dangerous gound anybody happens read what
is written
On July 81 the editorial writer on the Montana Standard
wandered off the reservation in the lead editorial.
He started out safely enough with discussion of the threat
of famine Europe But he went along, he became
interested in his subject that he forgot that have
$4,000 the state of Montana who terae and
the dreary editorials appearing of the Anaconda Cop
Mining Company they probably also do
Lying and if then the public relations counsel" of the
company would have uncomfortable moments trying
justify the companys expressed attitude.
After exhaustive discussion of the probable food cond
tons Europe the erude writer poured the following which
of particular interest to the wheat farmers of Montana and
the nation
'"The Americas alone may be to alleviate
famine in Europe winter. But in the
United States still following the New Deals theory
of plenty through scarcity Our wheat quotas
still in full force and effect Even Mon
high grade hard protein wheat of which there
has been surplus is involved in the governments
of curtament.
Figures from the reporting division of the Depart
of Agriculture indicate that July there in
mills elevators and warehouses of the United States
only 33,73O,OOO bushels of carryover wheat Montana
the leading in wheat production before
ducon quotas were imposed has this year in storage
1762 900 bushels of wheat. Of there
supplies the farms well, but most of that is
held for seed and domestic purposes
Secretary Wallace with his powers of control
production has failed in the task which he said he
would foresee, the needs of emergency
with her present surplus quantities of wheat the
United States will be unable adequately to heed the
helpless Europe winter for large supplies OF cheap
foodstuffs.
"The question is arising of the moral and economic
right curai foodstuff production when large popua
tons in the world without food supplies"
The farmers will remember Anaconda Copper Min
ing Company made profits in of 600 last
year and that this profit of the mines
in this state While the making this tremend
profit great numbers of the miners in Butte living
ragged edge of starvation and others relief or
working temporarily for pittance on the WPA
The will wonder why they the only who
moral obligation to produce surplus and why this
plotting corporation thinks has right to question their
moral and economic right to curta production, when it
has hesated time to cuai its production as it
fit at the immediate of suffering and hunger OF
its employees. When did it itself with what
shutdown would do the miners and their families?
question that might the farmers of Mon
ana whether the company in its for the
welfare of the people of Europe might be influenced by
surplus of agricultural products which would
lower their market value and thus reduce the price to the
workers company would have valid argument for
reduction whether not the farmer
in the process would the company not at ALL
gains that the farmer has made toward price for
products which closely approximates the costs of
ducon reduced production which the Standard
depores putting into practice to degree the
nomic pracced by the Anaconda and other
organization These rules just sound the
economic system which compel their practice.
Incidentally must be true that there tremendous de-
structon badly materials fashioned from
copper, in Europe.
Surely that the has apparently had great
moral awakening judging by its editorial it will be consist
emit it's production to the limit and take what
if anything get for its copper Surely does not
tend that and economic rights to curtail production
does not apply operations well the production
of the farmers
Do You Want Dictatorship? !,