The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-04-07
Capitol Letters
CONTINUED from Page One)


war on Ickes and on the Arabian deal,
let cetera Whether he broke with
Standard of California, or whether he
decided he would have to return to
his first love-Standard of New Jer-
sey-is the question. But in his at
Standard of CALIFORNIA; pet deal, the
Arabian deal.
Moffett still has friends, the most
powerful friends in official Washing
ton. When he declared war on Ickes,
the time had come for Ickes to begin
great deal towards retiring Ickes if
he decides to retire him.
You ask about the possibility of
congressional investigation" The
answer is there is little hope today
that an investigation will be made by
congress. There is faint glimmer Of
hope in the constant pressure being
applied against the oil conspiracies,
the Saudi deal and the price deal and
the tax deals, by Congressman Jerry
| Voorhis' and John M. Coffee of Wash
ington.
When Voorhis presented his first
story of the Saudi deal to the house,
he barely disturbed the slumbers of
most congressman. A handful of con-
gressmen appeared interested and
few Joined in the debate.
There will be a real inquiry in the
house only when the consumers of
this country organize to demand that
a real inquiry shall be made and when
they persist in the demand until con-
gressmen realize that the consumers
are aroused. Congressman are pressed
by so many demands they respond
only to those in which they are GER
tain there is real consumer interest,
or public interest Voorhis offered a
resolution for an inquiry but it went
to the house committee on interstate
commerce and that committee has
long been known as being very friend
ly to the major oil companies. The
major oil companies are busy every
day educating congressman. There is
little representation of the public in
terest. The resolution is buried, al
ready.
That condition in the house is WIN
| report that democracy is decaying
rapidly. The machinery of democracy
in the congress is disintegrating be-
cause of the lack of an aroused and
lions. The man on horseback in
the oil industry and other industries
are assuming authority.
The coil policy committee" organ
lied in the senate has just been an
There is little hope for an
by that committee. You
may recall that when TNEC was MAX
ing it's Investigations of monopoly"
the oil companies appeared but they
stipulated that they were not to be
and TNEC was careful to
put into the record statement that
it was not an investigation" Some
hing in the nature of an "investiga-
lion" was had but only because the
antitrust division of the Department
If Justice persisted in cross examin-
ng the representatives of the oil COM
)anies.
There are a few senators on the
oil policy committee" who could be
lroused to have an active interest in
he oil question. But, and again, they
will be aroused and interested only
their constituencies are aroused and
here is jealous interest in the oil
question, jealous and constructive in
crest, other than that shown by the
The work of the "oil
olicy committee" has already been
iscounted by the Jealous public serv-
nts in official Washington who de-
ire that the oil trust shall be thor
ughly exposed and it's activities
urbed. These jealous public serv-
nts discount the possibility that con-
inner interest can be organized. They
therefore,, have little hope.
l shall answer your other questions
/ forthcoming memoranda.