Milford chronicle., 1947-08-22


by the 1917 revolution, gave this warning to
America: To-day Communists everywhere
are trying to seize power by =. posing as
defenders of democracy organizing their
blows against liberty under the banners of
liberty.
"The Russian people cannot be blamed
for falling into the Bolshevik trap for, at that
time, the world had had no experience with
modern totalitarian techniqueS. But there is
no such excuse for the millions of workers,
farmers and intellectuals in the democratic
West who are offered the bait today"
The greatest barrier to the Communist
dream of world domination is the United
States with it's free government, it's free en-
terprise economy, its free press, and all it's
other institutions that protect and guarantee
the liberties of the people. Those institutions
are under continual attack, and the campaign
to destroy them takes many forms. AS an
example, the specialization and RECOMMENDATION
of industry is a primary plank in the tOtali-
tartan program - because free competitive
industry is a cornerstone of free, representa-
tive government. The continual demand, by
self-Styled liberal" and democratic groups
that such industries as power, coal, the rail-
roads and the rest be nationalized in the in
terest of the masses of the American people,
Is strictly in accord with the aims of dictator
Ship
1t took the world bloody centuries to free
itself from the rule of tyrants-and from
SWEEPSTAKES whose principles were identical
with the relationships of the present. But in
only few years much of the world has gone
back into the abyss of slavery and oppression
We in America are the great custOdians of
human liberty, and the leaders of it's forces.
That is the one thing which, in these tragic
times, no American should ever forget.
A REPORTER FOR the Christian Science
Monitor tells of three Chinese who worked
for six years in Cuba under the protection of
the United States, earning a comparatively
fabulous American salary. When asked if
they had ever heard of democracy, they
looked blank. He then asked them whether
they had ever heard of Communism. They
answered enthusiastically in the affirmative
Furthermore, the reporter said "they all
Thought they would prefer living under the
Communists in northern China on their re-
turn home They have read about Commu-
nism, but never have heard or read about the
democratic way of life under which they are
living so happily. Like the rest of us, they
take for granted American democracy"
The government of the United States has
functioned through the years for one purpose
to protect the dignity and freedom of it's
citizens. Individual initiative and endeavor
built the economy which makes this type of
government possible and keeps it operating
effectively. Yet, in the last decade and a
half, there has been clear trend in the direc-
ton of government ownership of industry
Communism. Two billion dollars have been
spent to establish government in the business
OF generating and distributing electric power
alone, IN tax-exempt competition with the in
Vestor-oWned tax-paying electric industry. A
great hydro-electrlc system is proposed for
the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with no
mention of it's effect on existing private utili-
ties IN the two valleys.
Such proposals by men high in govern
ment echo the hollowness of the three Chi
nese who lived under democracy in Cuba but
didn't know what it was.
If this nation is to survive as a land of
liberty, the government cannot 90 on expand
ing in fields that are the province of the pri-
vate citizens.
IT SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY under
stood that whatever electric power problem
exists IN this country is the direct result of
governmental policies which prevented nor
NAL development and expansion by the utility
industry. In this connection, it is a note
worthy fact that the danger of power short
ages is greatest in areas where thhe govern
ment has spent enormous sums on socialized
power, such as the Pacific Northwest In the
regions where government has not gone into
tax-free, subsidized competition with the reg
ulated, heavily-taXed utilities, there is gen
orally an abundance of power, new facilities
have been built to take care of present and
future Increases in demand, and they do not
depend on government charity for funds.
There would be an enormous increase in
private investment in electric facilities if the
threat OF government seizure of the industry
was removed. But, so long as the danger of
completely unfair government competition
remains in many areas, investors are natural
ly wary of risking their money in enterprises
whose life may be short. Further, if the util-
lty industry were encouraged to go ahead
and build and improve it's plants and trans
mission lines, great new taxable assets would
be created for all units of government. That,