Montana labor news., 1946-04-11
FREE ENTERPRISE
ILOVE YOU
By STUART CHASE

Eleven principal American oil COM
panies, with $2.3 billion invested abroad,
filed yesterday with Joseph c. O'Ma-
honey. chairman Of the special Senate
committee investigating petroleum re-
sources, a plea for strong government
support Of their plans for further ex-
p~ansion in the foreign field" This
item appeared in the New York Times
the other day under the headline: U. S.
URGED TO BACK OUR OIL EX-
PANSION.
Does this mean that the great petro-
leum companies have lost their enthu-
siasm for free enterprise, competition,
the American way, and down with gov
eminent interference Not at all. 1t
mean. only that when q job is to be
done, they cannot get a plane to Wash
ington fast enough.
They are not alone in this divorce
between Sunday economic theology and
tangible weekday behavior. Suppose
we ask various powerful groups of our
fellow citizen. a few leading questions
bearing on this double standard Of eco
nomic morality
Manufacturers Especially members
OF the NAM). You are as one against
government interference. Do you want
| the government to stop interfering with
imports, and rescind all protective tar
ifs;
Bus Companies Nothing grieves
you more than the well-known incompe-
tence OF the state. Shall the govern
ment cease the construction of cross
country highways?
Railroad Magnatesl Do you want
the Interstate Commerce commission
| closed up?
aluminium Company OF America! Do
you want to be broken into small frag'
rents by a corps OF Thurman Arnolds
insisting on genuine competition? Isn't
Mr.. Reynolds enough, in the way Of
competition-or maybe too much2
Storekeepers. You who insist that
all wal controls be removed. Do you
favor the dumping OF war stocks on
the market Tor what they will fetch,
ar should the government vigorously
control 'hcif foundation in the inter-
-sts Of ma niaining the price; Every
thing from coffee TO leeps is in stock.
Gentlemen Of the Silver Bloc! Do
YOU want the treasury to let silver find
is own level in the world market?
Radio Stations Shall wave-lengths
be turned over 10 free competition, or
must the government continue to allot
them. lest the air become a screaming
anarchy a. il the l920s?
Shipping interests. Do you want the
Merchau' %'larine subsidy done away
with, and Tree enterprise restored in
our business
Dairymenl Do you favor the re-
moval Of the tax on oleo so that com
petition may be allowed free play?
Farmers! Do you want to abandon
federal underwriting Of parity prices,
export subsidies, rural identification
projects, land grant colleges, govern
mcnt credit agencies, Agricultural de-
partment aids, government irrigation
districts?
Cattlemenl Do you favor the admis-
sion Of beef from Argentina on a real
competitive basis7
Veteransl Do you favor the dis
continuance Of USES, the veterans ad-
ministration and the CT Bill Of Rights I
Tenants! Shall the OPA take cell
ings off rents?
House Hunters! Shall Wilson Wyatt
be sent back where he came from, so
that the majestic forces OF supply and
demand may build you that house?
Southemersl Shall the government
allow cotton 20 fall TO the world market
pricel
WesternersI DO you favor the aban
donment Of Boulder dam, Bonneville