The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-06-26
THE
WASHINGTON
SCENE
BY HENRY ION

Despite the silence which has de
scended upon the aluminium sector OF
the nations war production front,
matters there are far from satisfac-
tory.
Sen. Robert M. LaFollette prog.
Wis., fired a carefully aimed barrage
on that front in the senate on June
Is and promised more shells later.
He is firing at highly fortified OBJ
ject, the Aluminium Co. of America.
Although the aluminium section of
the old OPM was one of the most
severely censured branches of that or
ganization, it was carried over into
the WPB, locks, stock, and barrel,
the Wisconsin senator noted.
while under attack by the Tru-
man committee, OPM announced with
much fanfare in the summer of 1871
that there were to be four independ-
ent aluminium producers under the
new government financed expansion
program" LaFollette told the senate.
But there was on public announce
ment when two of the four decided
not to enter this field, nor has there
been frank disclosure of the fact
that the further expansion announced
in February Of this year has been as
signed 1909 to Alcoa.
Consequently if the present ar
rangement prevails, Alcoa will operate
about 5000 of the aluminium capacity
OF this country. With the independ-
the total capacity, Alcoa's monopolist-
ic control has been strengthened rath-
er than curtailed by the war produc-
ton program.
Criticism of past practices was not
enough to bring about lasting changes.
Alcoa and its friends appear to be
sufficiently influential and resourceful
to survive these temporary storms Of
criticism"
The main point made by LaFollette
in his speech was that aluminium
plants financed by the government to
the tune of 1858, 100000 are using low
grade bauxite ores while the Alcoa-
owned plants are using the high grade
ores. Aicoa operates both groups.
The decision to use low grade ores
in the aforementioned plants, he
was made before there was
any survey made as to the amount
of high grade ore available and was
made on the basis of information sup
piled the government by Alcoa.
Low grade ore, he pointed out, re-
luires more processing, more labor
and more chemicals. 1t means vast
ing men, materials and time and a
slowing down of the war production
program.
When Alcoa was trying to prove,
Turing the course of it's recent anti
rust trial, that it had to import high |
Grade ores from South America it's
experts estimated that Arkansas had |
20 and 80 millions tons of
high grade beauxite on May 1, 1910 |
On the basis of this minimum esti
nate, LaFollette asserted, Arkansas
could supply all the needs of this
country as they are now estimated |
Until late in 1916. Taking into ac-
,ount the stockpile and the quantities !
coming from Guiana, the supply would |
asst until late 1947 or 194S.
Until now" LaFollette explained, |
low grade bauxite has had very lit
lie marketabiilty in this country Aft
r the war, with the superabundance
If ships, high grade bauxite from
south America will come into this
country at low enough prices to drive
ow grade domestic bauxite out of |
he market.
Consequently, the war period is the
'nly time when the owners of low
,rade deposits can realize any attrac-
i've profits on these otherwise worth
ess ores. Naturally, while the war
market lasts, bauxite owners will do
II in their power to dispose of the
Inferior bauxite.
Another reason for the use of the
nore inefficient ore, according to La
Gillette, lies in the desire of Alcoa
o prevent competition from the gov
plants after the war.
he company will be able to say that
he government-owned plants were
nuch more inefficient, that private
Enterprise has government ownership
eat all hollow. 1t can forget all about
he fact that the corporation was u.s.
lg high grade ores while the govern
lent was struggling with low grade
mes.
What neither Alcoa nor the people
the country can ever forget is the
act that American soldiers who
light have lived, died because of
lcoa's greed