The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-04-02
III ..-.:c+
I)u'O1 fMe
F.U.O.T.A.s
Why This Difference?
Neat But Not Gaudy.
AS Pearson Told 1t.
Dog Food for Some.
This Can Not Last.

When the farmer wants a loan to
help him put in crop of flaxseed,
soybeans, potatoes or beans he is
treated by certain aristocratic gentle
men down in Washington, D. G. as a
combination of Scrooge and Shylock!
But when the late Andy Melons
aluminium trust wants about 500 mil
lion to build and run a plant away up
in Canada, it finds itself handed
"non-recourse" loan without criticism
or questioning. What's the occasion
for the difference? Well, you see the
Aluminium Trust is organized and the
farmer-well, he is not yet, but he is
being forced to get together with his
brothers if he is to survive.
Five United States senators have
introduced a bill, the purpose of which
is to kill off the Regional Agricultural
Credit Corporation which is making
war crop risk, loans to
farmers Senator Byrd and his econ
omy committee, the American Bank
ers Association and certain of the So
called farm bloc" are supporting the
bill, because they say, what right has
a farmer with a loan that he doesn't
have to repay if his crop fails? The
farmers special privilege they insist,
is to pay back what he borrows, even
if it breaks him and sets him and his
family on the roadside. What if he
is trying to help produce food and
back his sons fighting over there in
Africa and the South Pacific? If his
boys can give their lives, why should
he not give his farm and few posses
sions? But the Aluminium Trust is
not under any such illusion. 1t pro-
1uces aluminium for the war but at a
price, brother, at a price which every
farmer and every citizen must pay.
The taxpayer gives his money to the
rust, but he must not even lend it to
he farmer who feeds and clothes the
boys over there and all the home folks
lere. Neat isn't it-but not gaudy?
u
Last week Columnist Pearson in his
Washington Merry go-Round" let the
,at out of the bag and his revelations
we're backed in a news story by l.
7. Stone in "P. M" the New York
laily. Here is the main part of what
Pearson wrote, though the full story
n the daily newspapers was longer
md can be read by any interested
armer:
rous bank-rool-on behalf of the U.
J. taxpayer-to the Aluminium Corp
# Canada, to build a giant power
liant in the wilds of Quebec, rivalling
BOULDER dam. There is will be be-
ond U. S. control, will escape u. S.
axes and will increase the control
Which Alcoa holds in both Canada and
he United States.
The Alcoa power project to which
esse Jones has been so generous is
he Shipsshaw development on the up
er Saguenay river. To build it, the
.luminum Corp. has received from
esse a loan of $68,500,O00 of u. S.
overnment cash. Furthermore Jesse
j charging NO INTEREST.
But, most interesting of all, he pro-
ides that if the plants contract is
ancelled before December 81, 1915,
lie balance of the $68,500,000 not re-
aid by the delivery of aluminium, will
smain in Alcoa's hands and NEED
OF BE REPAID to the United
tates.
Since everyone hopes the war will
> over long before the end of 1945,
which case the u. S. plans to can
Il all war orders Immediately, the
luminum Corp. stands ready to get
nice little windfall.
I'm addition to this $68,500,000 adj
lnced without interest, Jesse also
is advanced the Aluminium Corp.
4,24O,O0O at per cent. In other
ords the original $6S, 100000 will just
'out pay for the cost of the power
ant, after which Alcoa can borrow
to $34,24O,000 at per cent, to
'erate it. Thus Alcoa has NO Elk
1NSE and absolutely NO RISK"
winch now the farmer has plenty
ouble getting farm machinery and
pairs as we'll as gasoline But the
minimum Trust got all the metals it
eded, all priorities being waived for
Naturally all farmers will admire
at deal - it's such a good" one.
lat is why the bankers and the farm
DC and the other Byrds are all for
sventlng the farmer from getting a
IN to help him get going this spring.
is just small fry" who, like the
of Dives, can live off the crumbs
1T fall from the tables of wealth.
t that's no right ration for human
lngs though it may provide the am
osla OF the gods on the high OIym-
OF monopoly. 1t is time that
netting was done about this sort
favoritism and special privilege.
J our money, isn't it? Or it was,
til Jesse Jones syphoned it off to
} Alcoa which planted it in Can
l beyond our reach or recovery.
e ring of corporation farmers, bank
and aristocrats in Washington, if
y will consult the proper crystal
Ter will hear something pretty soon
at all to their advantage. That
t of thing can't last in a free coun-
and least Of all in a nation fighting
food for freedom
DEMAND THE UNION LABEL!