The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-09-24
By LEvERNE HAMILTON

POWER
In our study Of the economic evolu-
tionary processes we have thus far
given but little attention to one high
ly important factor in our changing
industrial picture, the increasing de-
velopment and use of electrical en-
ergy. The industry, production and
marketing of electric power is, even
under our capitalist system of free
competition" business SO thoroughly
centralized as to be classed a mo-
nopoly and the group in control of
the industry has for some time been
one of the most noticeable examples
of the capitalist jitters," as witness
the pamphlet mailed out to their pay
irons" with the August statement, by
the Montana branch of the Power
Family"
The pamphlet is titled Dynamite in
Dixie" and from it | quote a few il
Illuminating excerpts: To-day when
cotton is more important than ever
before, the companies associated with
YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY (Em-
phasis mine) are delivering electric
power for King Cotton from planta-
ton to factory in nine great states
which produce about 1920 of all the
cotton grown in the U.S.A."
Readers of this series will recall
that in previous chapter mention
was made of a similar propaganda
pamphlet of the companies associated
with YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY
| in which they modestly admitted fur
nishing the electric power for 1870
of all the copper mined in the U.S.A.,
and observing students, if they follow
the "workingsv of this electric prop
uganda milf will no doubt observe
many such admissions which indicate
the extent to which this business is
monopolized by "the companies asso-
ciated with YOUR ELECTRIC COM
PANY."
In the previous chapter above men
toned, l referred to the nervous jit-
ters" of YOUR ELECTRIC COM
PANY" and this case of capitalist jit-
ters, instead of improving seems to
be growing more aggravated, as in
Dictated by another excerpt from the
August propaganda mill: &c. But |
there is small, active minority of |
job hunters who hope to use this war
emergency as a means of overthrow
ing and sociaIizing your free institu-
lions and industries for their person
al and political gain. -
Since YOUR ELECTRIC COM
PANY' has seen fit to bring the sub
ject to our notice, appears to become
more ''jittery" about it daily, and
especially because the increasing de-
velopment and use of electrical en-
ergy is scheduled to play such an
important part in the evolutionary
process and the reorganization which
must take place in the postwar pc
ter or two of our study to the part
YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY" has
played, and is playing in our economic
and political activities, and to the
part electricity will play in the evolu-
tionary economic process in the flu
ture.
YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY"
montana Power), in addition to sew
9ral plants on smaller streams, has
seven dams on, the Missouri river
(which is navigable stream) which
ire maintained thereon contrary to
he laws of the United States, without /.
he consent of congress, without a Ii !.
,ense under the federal water power
lct and without authority from the :
tate of Montana. This places YOUR
COMPANY" in the posi-
ion of a common trespasser upon the d
ands of the state and nation So it
would seem that Mr.. John @. Citizen d
# Montana would do we'll to be look
ng into the affairs of This ELEC-
RIG COMPANY" Cor is it his?), for p
he constitution of Montana provides
Art. III, Sec. 15) that: "The use of y
II water now appropriated or here u
fter to be appropriated and the right y
f way over the lands of others for II
tunes, ;. etc., as we'll as the sites III
Dr. all reservoirs necessary for col u
Getting and storage of the same shall Y
cid to be a public use" AND the VI
anne document Cart XIV, Sec. 81 pro- &c
ides that "The right of eminent do Ut
lain shall never be abridged nor so oe
1nstrued as to prevent the legislative
from taking the property 81
nd franchises of incorporated COM I'll
anies and subjecting them to public va
SO :" Which may in some meas co
e account for the present jittery Oh
ate of YOUR ELECTRIC COM pl
ANY'S" nerves. WI
In recent weeks there has been con- b
derable agitation manifested in the DO
lily press largely controlled by fe
JOUR- ELECTRIC COMPANY'') over
o proposal to raise the water level &C
Flathead lake to provide auxiliary tn
orage for the Columbia Basin power pr
gion, and series of meetings were les
Id in this section of the state, at an
lich numerous citizens gathered to Gre
ter their protests and hear a dis
ssion of the subject. What they Il,
ally heard however was Congress
IN Mike verbally patting Congress
IN Jim on the back for the wonder /
stand he had taken on the matter, Fa
d Congressman Jim returning the col
rbal pats for Congressman Mikes by
oble fight for the preservation of am