The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-01-10

Why Fear Fascism In America?

reprinted elsewhere in this issue
Getting down to brass tacks, just why should
fear possibilities short review of the
extent to which monopoly capitalism has gained control
of the economy of nation reported before the
by the Federal Trade Commission will shed some light
the for fears
The Federal Trade Commission report on monopoly,
as presented to North Dakota Farmers Union
venon in 1899 by the late Morris Erickson land avail
able in pamphlet form under title "On Your Life The
Economics of Life Insurance0 follows:
In banking / per OF the banks control 9S per
cent of the banking resources.
In meat packing two companies produce so per cent
of the total.
In steel nine companies have so per cent of the
mill capacity with United States Steel Corpora
ton alone having 40 per cent of the total.
In glass, four companies dominate the field
In sulphur, two companies control all production.
In rubber, four companies dominate the field.
In farm implements, International Harvester Com
pany alone has so per cent of the United States
Ford and General Motors produce rs per cent of our
automobiles
The International Nickel Company 80 per cent
of the worlds nickel reserves.
The United States Steel Corporation rs per
cent of iron reserves.
Five per cent of the water power companies control
70 per cent of developed water power.
Five per cent of the anthracite coal companies own
rs per cent of all recoverable tonnage.
Five per cent of the bituminous coal companies own
so per cent of all recoverable tonnage.
Five per cent of the iron and steel companies
50 per cent of the iron ore reserves.
Five per of the petroleum companies so
per cent of petroleum reserves.
Five per cent of the manufacturing companies pro-
duce 65 per cent OF the value OF all manufactured
products.
Five per cent of the wholesale establishments do As
per cent of the wholesale business.
Five per the retail establishments do As
cent of all retail business
Five per cent of all corporations receive Sc per cent
of all corporate income.
Five per of all corporations own II per cent of
all corporate assets.
This astounding picture of the extent to which the
ownership of countrys and business
erprises has fallen into few hands should make every
thinking person pause and wonder how much longer
It will be before a few corporations everything,
including ourselves At the present rate of concentra-
ion it be long before the United States be-
comes truly corporate state, owned totally and ruled
nercilessly by a handful of corporation executives.
With the ownership of all the by which we live
resed in the hands of few corporation executives,
With whose tender mercies we all well acquaint-
3D. who will question that shall have become voice
ess, powerless slaves existing only prove profit
bile to master
The real rulers of our country are those 200 cor
orations who control the countrys resources
nd machines. Their is greater than that of any
government by any political party. Congress and the
PRESIDENT may plead with the monopoiss to re-employ
he unemployed Congress and the President NAV beg
he monoposts to deal kindly with impoverished
armers Congress and the President may grove before
Gritty but not wheel will unless and until the
eudal barons who the factories give the word
because they own the means by which we live they
old the destinies of the American people in their
ands Theirs is the power of life DEATH exceeding
nat of political government may be elected
Congress- may pass laws, and Presidents may make
peeches, but the economic dictators have the final
Inmate power. END quote)
This control coupled with the incorporation of the
liter philosophy by monopoly business in carrying on
ecton campaigns such the building up of "com
unst bogeyman' a nationwide basis will provide
rther justification for position Particularly this
ue when one recalls what happened here in Montana
TooMEY, MARTIN, WEIR G COMPANY
Surely Reverend Lee and other skeptics recall the
nous Montana Citizens Council; how that misnamed
ltfit through it's leading jingoistsE Toomey cor
'ration lawyer and lobbyist; T. b. (Blackjack) Weir
CM lawyer and boss of the Helena Independent Rec
d, Billings Gazette and Livingston Enterprise; and
Gorge Il Martin, front for Montana Associated In
stries-peddled the Goebbels line of =" never tell
g a small lie when you dream up a seemingly pre-
sterous !" There wasn't word of truth in
11I