davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
REPORT TELLS
CARDINAL SINS
OF ms. COS.
TNEC Report Shows Policy
Holders Could Not Control
Election of Officers; Agents
Admitted Forging Names of
Policy-Holders to Proxies.
By JOHN CARSON
Washington Representative The
Coop League


WASHINGTON.-A catalog of anti
social, anti-democratic and immoral
aspects of the present insurance sys-
tenn was laid bare by the insurance
report presented to the TNEC O'Ma-
honey Monopoly committee a few
weeks ago. They might well be called
the 'ten cardinal sins" of the indus
try:
l. Directors do not direct" Direc-
tors who actually are trustees for bill
lions of dollars of other peoples
money have no regard for their trus-
teeship. Many attend meetings rarely
and the officials of the companies con-
done this Indifference.
2. Because of looseness in state
laws and company practices, policy
owners have no more control over
their companies than do the voters in
Germany or Italy or Russia have con-
troll over their governments. The
boards of directors are self-perpetuat-
ing.
3. Although Frederick H. Ecker,
former president of the biggest and
most powerful life insurance company
The Metropolitan praised the 'mu-
tuaT" features of mutual life insur-
ance companies" because through
mutual organizations he said policy
owners could control and elect the d.
rectors and thus control the appoint
ment of officials-the fact is that the
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
SPRING-S0WN
CROP ACREAGE
LESS Than 1910
Considerable Reduction in
Spring Wheat Planting Is
Brought About by Agricul-
tural Program; Oats, Flax
and Hay to Show Increases.

Montana farmers will plant more
corn, oats, and flaxseed this spring
compared with last year, but will de
crease paintings of spring wheat
beans, and potatoes, if current inten-
| lions regarding acreage are not up
set by weather and price conditions
between now and planting time, &C
cording to report issued today by
the Agricultural Marketing Service. A
somewhat larger acreage of all tame
hay is also indicated for 1871 com
pared with last year.
The total acreage of pricipal spring
sown crops will be about per cent
smaller than last year, and about IS
per cent below that of the 1930-39
average.
Except in the case of spring wheat,
where 10 per cent decrease is indi-
Gated in compliance with the agricul-
tural program, the prospective change
i'll other paintings for 1941 will not
be great. They will in most cases
show smaller 1871 paintings than
those of the ten years preceding 1910.
Larger corn paintings for 1941 are
indicated as compared with both 1910
and the 1O-year average. Spring
wheat paintings, indicated at 2,498,-
600 acres, are 10 per cent smaller COM
pared with 1910, and far below the 10
years average of 3,37S,000 acres. Oats
indicated at 355,000 acres,
are per cent larger than in 1910 and
will also exceed the 10-year average
paintings. Indicated barley paintings
of 223,000 acres are unchanged COM
pared with 1910 but well above the 10
year average of 1880 acres In the
case of flax, an increase Of 10 per cent
to 10000 acres would compare with
the 10-year average of 10000 acres.
Smaller than usual paintings of po
Latoes are indicated by the 1941 inten-
tons of 1900 acres, compared with
$4,000 acres for last year. If $4,000
acres of beans are planted in 1941,
they will represent decrease of 10
per cent compared with paintings in
1910, and would also be far under the
10-year average paintings of $4,000
acres.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
81 Percent Latin Americas
Exports are Agricultural; 10
of Their 20 Leading Exports
in 1888 Competed Directly
With u. S. Farmers.

Various proposals are now being set
forth whereby the countries of Latin
America will be joined more closely
to the United States. Though there
are some differences among the ex-
ponents of this policy business circles
are, as General Robert e. Wood of
Sears, Roebuck states, in agreement
that the United States should extend
its control and differ only as to how
far south this direct control can be
Immediately applied. While some,
like Wood, would stop at the equator,
Others, such as those for whom Dor
othy Thompson speaks, do not stop
at all In it's reports the department
of commerce sometimes seems to en-
visage plans taking in Patagonia and
southern Chile, which is as far south
as anyone can go in South America.
Since Latin American production is
predominately agricultural, the farm
ers of the United States are particu-
Iarly concerned with proposals for
Pan-Hemispheric unity. Moreover,
the Latin American output in large
part would compete directly with
United States surplus-producing farm
ers OF Latin Americas 20 leading
exports in 1888, the latest year avail
able fourteen were agricultural and
these comprised Ga per cent of the
value of the 20 products. Ten of these
agricultural products are directly
competitive to a greater or lesser ex-
tent with our own products.
Analysing Latin American exports
to this country the office of foreign
agricultural relations of the U.S.D.A.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26

The measure would have authorized
the governor to organize troops osten-
sibly for home defense purposes, but
as companion measure to similar
bills introduced in the legislatures of
other states would have permitted the
troops to cross state lines. Thus
Montana home guard" men could
have crossed the boundaries of other
states with impunity and full author
ity, in the pursuit of something or
someone they considered as coming
within the scope of what they con-
ceived as their mission Equally, of
course, storm troopers" from other
states could have operated freely In
Montana.
The bill was bitterly fought by all
organized labor bodies and actively
opposed also by members of the
Farmers Union who were members in
the state legislative bodies All of
these saw the possible dangers in
volved in the creation of an armed
body of this character. They could
easily envision the probable unbal-
anced attitude of the membership of
a force of this character and how lit
tie regard 1t would have for civil,
rights and how easily
it could be employed by special in
terests in suppression of rights of
workers.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
u. S. PLAYS ITS
ROLE I'M GAME OF
GRAB and keep
By SCOTT NEARING

! The Roosevelt administration has
now committed the U. S. to a war
ec-onomy-that is, an economy the
success of which depends upon the
manufacture of munition and military
supplies The defense outlay sched-
uled to date is $35,O00,0 100000. Other
items will swell this total from time
to time.
Japan has been on war economy
for several years. Germany and Italy
went on a war economy in 1884 or
1885; Britain and France in 1897 or
1888. BY joining the war economy
group, the U. S. has made the decis-
ion for war unanimous.
The people of the U. S. no more
want war than did the people of Italy
or Japan. Yet they are plunged into
the extravagant wastefulness of war
economy, with the prospect of two
ocean navy, huge standing army and
tens of thousands of fighting planes.
What force has dragged hundreds of
millions of unwilling victims into the
abyss of military preparations and
war?
The ruling classes of the world play
a big complicated game called Grab
and Keep. The stakes of the game
are fertile land minerals, water
routes, markets, wealth and power
The pawns are backward colonial peo-
pies. The main pieces are millions
of home folks in military formations,
in mines, in factories and on farms.
The object Of the game is world DOM
ination.
Grab and Keep has been the favor
tie game of the ruling classes through
the centuries. A ruling class would
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
Problem of Skilled Labor
Nav Soon Become Acute

Problem of Skilled Labor
May Soon Become Acute
The problem of an impending acute
shortage of skilled labor in defense
industries is causing not little con
Germ to those charged with the task
of mapping out and looking after the
country's huge defense program.
1t is true that no serious overall
shortage has as yet developed, al
though some local shortages have oc-
Cured something, of course, to be
expected. OPM officials, however, are
fully aware that the problem likely
will reach szabIe proportions by next
September, when the defense program
is expected to reach real stride. rms
is especially true of the aviation IN
dustry, experiencing mushroom
growth. where a shortage of skilled
supervisory personnel already is felt.
When the anticipated shortage OF
skilled workers in defense industries
develops, it is predicted here that
many skilled workers will be "encour-
AGED" to leave their jobs in monde
Tense, especially non-essential, indus
tries for defense jobs-wooed by high
err wages and better working condl-
ton. The non-defense industries Will
have to get along with fewer skilled
workers, and replace them with semi
skilled workers. There will be sort
of thinning out process.
The Labor Division in the deIense
setup, in cooperation with other gov
eminent agencies, has taken certain
steps to meet the problem sucn as
Redistribution of all unemployed
workers in accordance to skills; rals-
ing of the maximum age limit from 40
to 62 years in army arsenals and navy
shipyards; "combing out OF skilled
workers from behind store counters
and unskilled jobs; removal OF skilled
workers from localities where there
are no job opportunities for them to
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26

introduced in the recent ses-
sion, and it is certain that
many of those who voted for
the measure in both houses did
so because of failure to under
stand the intent of the pro-
posed law, because of it's spon-
sors' failure to explain its pro-
visions.
Sec. 21121, which this bill sought
to amend, provides that credits of
any insurance company including
evidence of Indebtedness secured by
mortgages, less legal reserves for the
protection of policy holders and other
indebtedness shall be classified and
taxed on the basis Of 80 percent of
full cash value, as thus ascertained. !"
House Bill No. 131 would have done
away with this entirely and provided
that "The capital stock and surplus
funds shall be classified and
taxed on the basis of 7 percent"
According to county records, under
the law as it now stands, the Western
Life Insurance Company was assessed
in 1899 for credits valued at S826,937,
taxable value at 30% was $2480S1.
Under the provisions of House Bill
No. 131 the assessment would have
been an assessment of capital stock
and surplus funds in the amount of
$2,300000, and the taxable value at
7@o would have been $161,000, a reduc
ton of $S7081 or 35.1%.
Under the law as it now stands the
Western Life Insurance Company was
assessed in 1910 for credits valued at
$820,904, taxable value at 5000 was
$246,271 Under the provisions of
House Bill No. 131 the assessment
would have been an assessment of
capital stock and surplus funds in the
amount of $2,35O,000, and the taxable
value at 10 would have been $164,5O0,
a reduction of $81,771 or 1920.
Under the present law insurance
companies are assessed in somewhat
the same manner as state banks.
There is notable exception, however.
If a state bank owns government |
bonds, the amount of such bonds is |
not permitted to be assessed against |
the bank. However, their value en-
tiers into the value of the capital
stock, and the bank assessment law
requires an assessment against the
stockholders. The insurance law pro-
yides for no such assessment and the
value of government bonds belonging
to an insurance company is not re-
Elected in any assessment either to
the company or it's stockholders.
In 1899 the Western Life Insurance
Company paid a dividend of 25% to
it's stockholders. In 1910 the dividend
Continued on Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
WORLDS LARGEST FARMER

From figures recently released in summary of the Com
ittee Concentration Economic Power in the United
States it would appear that the Metropolitan Life nsur-
ance Company is the s'Word's Largest Farmer"
This company, according to the committee, operates
1000 FARMS different states Some of these farms
are 1000 in SIZE In 1887 the company harvested
So 900 bales of cotton 10 million bushels of five
million bushels of wheat six million pounds of peanuts
million pounds of tobacco. Their AAA check in 1888
totaled S346,7730O Figures are not available the
harvest received by other life companies engag
ing farming but if the Of their AAA checks be
used measuring stick could that the nine
largest insurance companies had total harvest equal to
times the amount harvested by Metropolitan would
appear that under certain circumstances agriculture
be profitable enterprise
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
MONTANA Farmers union
HAS TAKEN NO OFFICIAL
STAND ON QUOTA VOTE

The attitude the Montana Division of the Farmers Educa
onal and Cooperative Union the referendum wheat
quotas that for the present. until detailed information
available and the future definitely outlined
taking for against the referendum
will organization go definitely record
ing membership against the quota the ref
erendum.
publish below the opinions of people who have given
thought to the complexities of the problem:
Excerpts from statement of Glen Talbot President N D.
Farmers Union:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26

The North Dakota Farmers Union
has not adopted any official position
in regard to wheat quotas under the
present Farm Act, owing to the fact
that up to this time, wheat farmers
have never been required to vote on a
national marketing quota. Final de-
termination in regard to the referen-
dunn probably will not be made until
May Is. However, under the provis-
ions of the 1888 Farm Act the market
| ing quota proclamation is mandatory
whenever it appears by May Is that
the total supply of wheat for the next
marketing year will exceed normal
years domestic consumption and ex-
ports by more than $50.
Large Carry-over In Prospect
The December crop report estim-
ated the 1941 winter crop at 633,000,-
the July 1 carry-over is 85,00O,O00
bushels. If the spring wheat crop
should run from 160,000,OO0 to $780,
100000 bushels we would have a total
supply of wheat for 1941 and 1912 of
about 1,200,000,0O0 bushels. Such a
supply of wheat would make is manda-
tory for the secretary of agriculture
to issue a marketing quota proclama-
ton.
The law provides that two-thirds of
the participating wheat farmers who
vote in the referendum must vote yes
in order to invoke the quotas. If more
than third of such farmers vote
no in the referendum, quotas may not
be invoked and the law provides that
in the event referendum is called
and is voted down by more than one
third of the farmers, Commodity loans
will not be available on that crop for
the ensuing year.
15c Wheat Possible
With the international situation as
it is, the result of which has been the
almost total loss of our export market
for wheat, it would seem that the
large potential supply of wheat would
a point where producers would prob
ably receive not to exceed Is or zoe
a bushel, If we are to be without the
price supporting loans made by the
Commodity Credit Corporation.
Therefore, in my judgment, it would
seem to be part Of good business for
wheat farmers to vote yes" on the
quota referendum in case
such a referendum is called. This does
not mean that the Farmers Union as
Continued on Page Two)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
WESTERN LIFE C0mPANY'S
JOKER BILL FAILS TO
PASS GOVERNORS EYE
Measure Would Have Reduced the : les of
the Western Life Insurance Con ny by
About 372o for lo4l; State, Coun ! school
and City Of Helena Taxes Paid by the Com
pany Would Have Been Reduced.

cleverly worded bill (H 1919 probably drafted
by Toomey corporation attorney and ackey of the
sentatves Clark county, by
saved payment by the Western Life Insurance
Company thousands of dollars
both houses but vetoed by Governor Ford
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
Number of Forced Farm Sales 1sao-ae

Computations made by BAE, of the
United State Department of Agricul-
ture.
Farmers in 1889 paid out s1,4OO,-
OO0, 900 for interest charges, taxes and
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26

Jusyng the confidence which organized labor liberals
generally throughout the state have had in the judgment the
Governor last Friday the guard
bill which had been urgently advocated by warhystera OBJ
persons organizations the state already vonng
all kinds of DOGGY men, and fifth rading
peace and tranquility of Montana
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26
'HEIMWEHR" MEASURE
CROWNED ON; VETOED !.
BY GOVERNOR FORD

Storm Trooper Bill Which Might Have
Been Made Use of as a Prosecuting Body
Fails To Get Approval of Governor; Veto
Message Stated That Portion of the Bill Was
s'Repugnant' to Him.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26

Economic Justice and Equality
Is the Real Safeguard Of De
mocracy. Lack of These Is
Challenge to the Intelligence
and Sincerity of All.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-26


!. Democracy Cannot Endure I'm
der Economic Systems Which
Cause Hunger, Cold, Poor
Housing and Unemployment to
Millions.
Evening star., 1941-03-03

he played varsity football and helped
organize the schools first boxing
team, of which he was a member.
He is best known for his work in
connection with the latter sport, with
which he has been identified II
years.
Whether La Fond will coach basket
ball next winter, Father Magner was
not prepared to say. Much rear
ranging of the program remains to
be done before the new setup will
have any degree of permanency.
La Fond, however, is expected to
take charge of spring football prac-
tice when it begins in about two
weeks.
Although Bergman's resignation
was somewhat of a shock to his
friends, it was not wholly surprising
for it was common knowledge that
the departure of Bishop James Ryan
several years ago meant the end of
major sports at Brookland. Bishop
Ryan was warm, personal friend
Of Bergman's and sports enthuSi-
ast. He was responsible for bring
ing the coach to Washington from
the University of Minnesota, where
Bergman served under Fat" Spears
as backfield coach.
Bishop Corrigan, while not overly
enthusiastic about sports, was not
opposed to them until the athletic
(See ATCHIsON, Page abb
Evening star., 1941-03-03
Luck OF Draw Boosts
Syraeuse's Chance
For Boxing Title
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March 3.-Although
the competition figures are to be
stronger than ever this year with
Virginia and the United States Coast
Guard Academy in the lists, the
luck of the draw has made Syracuse
a double favorite to win team hon
ors in the Eastern intercollegiate
boxing championships at Syracuse
Friday and Saturday.
Given the edge on the basis OF
dual meet performances and of the
presence of three defending cham
pions and one former title holder on
its squad, the Orange got all the
"breaks" when the draw for the
meet was made yesterday. Five OF
the eight Syracuse boxers drew first
round byes, sending them into the
semifinals.
Heading the Syracuse squad are
Milford Fahey, winner last year at
12O pounds, who has moved up to
the 127-pound division; America
Woyciesjes, defending 175-pound
champion: Loren Schoff, 145 pounds,
and Charles Healy, who won the
165-pound title two years ago. Penn
State will defend its 1910 team title
with a full squad.
Evening star., 1941-03-03
D. T.. Table Net Rouf
Averted bYF Fields
In Southern Play
With CupeIIe, Delaware
Player, He Gets Share
Of Doubles Crown

Despite their numerical domina-
ton of the field, Washington table
tennisers ran second best to out
siders in all but one of the four
championships at stake in the first
annual Southern States Open
tournament at the Chevy Chase Ice
Palace over the week end
Stan Fields, manager of the courts
where the tourney was held, salvaged
a bit of local honor when he won
the mems doubles title with Paul
Capelle of New Castle, Del, but both
he and Carolyn Wilson were de-
feated in singles and. together, lost
the mixed doubles final
Izzy Bells of Philadelphia. for
merly the third nationally ranking
player, defeated Fields for the men S
singles honors, 22-2O, 24-22. 17-21,
21-16. Miss Wilson. recently
crowned Eastern champion. was up
set in straight games by Henrietta
Wright, also of Philadelphia, for the
women's crown, 21-16, 2l-15,
26-24.
Twice, Miss Wliosn and Fields had
one-game leads in the mixed doubles
final, only to be overtaken and
beaten by Bells and Miss Wright,
10-21, 21-18, 12-21, 21-18, 21-14,
A fellow-townsman was one of
Fields victims in the mems doubles
title tilt, Elias Schuman being the
partner of Bells, who bowed to
Fields and Capelle, 19-2l, ALA,
2l-l6,
Evening star., 1941-03-03
Chance for Tourney
Bid InspiresG. W.
And ST. Johns
Invading Team in Hot
Streak; CoIonioIs
After 9th in Row

The post-season aspirations Of
George Washington University's
basket ball team will hinge on
events of the next three evenings
and tonight the Colonials are intent
upon removing so per cent of their
obstacles when they battle power
full st. Johns of Brooklyn at River
side Stadium at $50 o'clock.
With st. Johns and Georgetown,
which will be tackled on Wednesday
night at the same spot, blocking
the path to the most successful sea-
son ever enjoyed by George Wash
ington five, the Colonials will shoot
the works in an effort to obtain a
bid to the annual sports writer's
tournament at Madison Square
Garden.
st. Johns Has Chance, Too.
st. Johns, though, also retains
a chance for an invitation to the
same tourney, but must hurdle G..
w. and Toledo to make the grade
The Indians have won II games and
lost four and in spanking N. Y. u,
58-41, last week, displayed what
several New York writers stamped
as the most brilliant exhibition seen
there this season.
The Redmen present a polished
well-balanced squad. with key
players in Dutch Garfinckel and
Jimmy White. Coach Joe Lap
chicks team was away to a mediocre
start but is sizzling in the stretch,
with White sparkling the scoring.
The George Westinghouse. Johns
rivalry is one of the oldest on Co
lonial books. The teams have played
nine times and st. Johns holds
So edge. Six times, however, the
margin of victory in these games
has been five points or less, and an
other close result is anticipated
tonight.
Play Orthodox Game.
There is nothing unorthodox about
st. Johns style of play. The Red
men employ a man-for-man de-
fense, with clever switching, alter
nate the fast breaking and delib-
crate styles of attack, as does G. w.
st. Johns shoots well from outside
and its handling of rebounds is
clever.
Coach Bill Reinhart will use Matt
zunic and Charley Jones at for
wards, Joe Conner at center and
Bobby Gillian and Lou Veltri at
guards, with Eddie Amendola, joey
Gallagher and Roy McNeill likely
to be rushed into action.
George Washington will be seek
ing its eighth straight victory and
its twelfth in its last 13 games.
A preliminary will be staged at
tbs o'clock.
Evening star., 1941-03-03
BIozis Has Busy
Weekend Card

AL Blozis, Georgetown giant who
boosted his shot-put mark to So
feet 6 inches in the indoor I. c.
"A. games at New York last Sat-
urday, is going to be a busy young
man for the next two weeks.
Friday Al will do his stuff in
the Maryland-Fifth Regiment
games at Baltimore. Saturday
he'll compete in the New York
K. of G. games and Monday he'll
be back in Washington for a fling
in the Catholic U. games at Uline.
Then he will close out the season
in the Washington A. A. games
at Uline the following Saturday.
Catholic u, meanwhile, has an
nounced the receipt of Gene
Venzke's signed entry blank for
the "Killian Mile" Venzke took
the Maxi Mile" last year at
Brookland when Glenn Cunning
ham went the last four laps with
blood oo1ing from cash on his
foot,