Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-09-20
Monopoly And You

TO the American people the dangerous sit
uation which exists in our country when
small group of powerful, greedy profit
seekers are able to control the life OF the
nation, even down to its basic dietary
needs.
Shutting off the meat supply of the ma
ton is cut from the same pattern and
prompted by the same motives which actI-
waited other monOpolists who have cur
tailed production and distribution of cloth
ing, electrical equipment, automobiles and
a host of other greatly needed com
modties.
Today, thanks to the indifference OF
Congress and a tax law which subsidies
the monopolists in their fight against the
public, we find ourselves completely at the
mercy of ruthless and unscrupulOus mi
nority, who, because of their control over
the productive and distributive resources
of the nation are able to turn off and on
the basic and other commodities required
by all the people.
Never before has such open contempt
been shown for the American people
Never before has such highhanded deal
ing and arrogance marked the rule of the
monOpOlists over whole nation
For many years, ever since the begin
ming of monopoly control men have
sought with varying success to stem its
noxiouS growth. Despite all opposition,
it has continued to maintain its growth,
until at last ii has emerged in open
defiance of the government and shown its
true nature by finally shutting off the
nations food.
Monopoly in its fight against control
defics government and in its defiance de-
fieS the whole people Safe and secure in
the knowledge that its champions in Con-
gress will defend and protect it, il has
finally reached the point where its power
is so great that it can regulate the diet of
the people.
And in the face of this illustration of
the power of monopoly and its utter con
tempt for the opinion of the people, there
are still those who do not believe or take
part in political action.
Congress from the very beginning of
monopoly practice down TO the present
time has made possible the situation which
the people of this country are today ex-
periencing. The rise and growth of
monopoly control could never have oc-
Cured without the aid of Congress.
Without Congress, the tax laws which
guarantee the profits of corporations for
two years after the war could never have
been written.
Without Congress, the great corpora
tiOns of the country could not have had
their control subsidized TO the point where
the tax money which has been collected
is now paid TO big business TO enable il to
take the food from our tables, curtail pro-
ductiOn and distribution of needed com
modities and cram the whole inglorious
mess down the thrOats of the people
Without Congress- price control could
not have been turned into decOntrol in
which government itself bleSSeS the infla-
tiOnary process and price control becomes
the incentive for the meat monopoly to
thumb its nose at the public.
If the aid and comfort which Congress
has given to monopoly does not arouse the
people TO action, and that by way of the
ballot box, then il appears that we are
not only bankrupt in our legislative
bodies, but so Indifferent that we do not
deserve treatment other than that which
is now being dished out to us by the
greedy buccaneers of big business.
We can consider the facts and decide
what we want to do about them We
have one of two choices: Either we vote
out the congressional reactiOnaries who
have paved the way for monopoly con
troll over our lives, or we permit them to
remain and continue to order our lives
along more drastic lines.
III you resent the control which cur
tails the manufacture and distribution of
clothing, housing, automobiles and other
commodities and then caps il all by tax.
ing food from your table, you will pre-
pare to vote in November to rid yourself
OF the stupid representatives whom YOU
elect to office, but who serve the greedy
corporations instead of the people.
Think, then vote. Upon your own
vote will depend your own welfare. the
welfare of your fellow citizens and the
future of your country.