The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-10-09
BY LEvERNE HAMILTON
THE NUDE EEL

he MULE. EEL
Slim Moss of Miles City had a fay
orite story about two fishermen VIII
were catching nothing but cells, ant
lfinding hat eel-skins were marketable
skins. Having discovered this to BIZ
q source of revenue they became wor
ried about the source of supply anC
so tried skinning the cells alive and
throwing them back into the lake
where they found that they would
grow a new skin and soon be ready
for another harvest. This was sue
cessful beyond their widest expecta
lions for after a few skinnings the
fishermen did not have to use bait as
the cells become accustomed to the
process and almost swamped the boat
climbing into 1t to be skinned.
There Is parallel to be drawn
from this story and comparison not
too complimentary to the American
voter, for after being skinned alive
by the first Nude Eel' administra-
ton the American voter came back
and almost swamped the boat scram-
bling aboard for a second and third
skinning.
The Nude Eel" administration cap
tured political power in the United
States at a time when the American
voter was in the lowest depths of
despair. 1t is true that the voter did
not know exactly what he wanted, but
he was utterly Disguised with what
he had and change of almost any
kind would seem welcome relief.
Consequently when a fireside chatter
box tickled his eardrums with the
promise of a New Deal" he fell for
the new slogan with a sickening
"thud." How was he to know that it
was to be from the bottom of the
deck?
Capitalist leadership was still
frightened out of its wits. Such of
the financial wizards" as had not
dashed out their quasi brains by leap
ing from high windows were boarding
their gold, in some cases having 1t
loaded on private yachts preparatory
to a sudden embarkation to a foreign
shore If and when the imminent crash
of capitalism became an assured fact
and on Inauguration day in 1888 every
bank Of Importance in the nation
closed its doors.
Here to the great expounder of a
new deal" was the greatest oppor-
funftu fo,. carvfoa axra. oFeoxol -
president in the history of the United
States. Had the Fireside Chatter
been really DESTROYS of giving Amer
lea a new deal there was Just one
thing for him to say to the incoming
ongress-"These banks will only re-
open as government operated institu-
TONS" The opportunity was made TO
order, he had been elected by the
greatest majority in political history,
the public looked to him for guidance,
expected something new and startling.
and would have backed his demands
to such an extent that it would have
been political suicide for congress to
have refused. Had he taken such a
course it would have effectually
placed halter on Wall Street finance
with the lead rope firmly in the presi- |
tents hands. But the New Dealer |
was either not DESTROYS of a new deal |
Or not wise enough to perceive the
opportunity, at any rate he fumbled |
he ball on the first play, proclaimed
/ bank holiday" but the faith and
,redit of the government at the com
nand of the private banking institu-
ions, re-established them on a sound
,r footing with only the improvement
If guaranteed deposits (something
ong demanded by the socialists) and