The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-04-18


SEN. JAMES E. MURRAY
"While the proponents of the amend
ment have not said so explicitly, there
is behind all this opposition to Mr. Lii
ienthal and this scheme for the setting
up of a new commission freed from
the controls of the Mcmahon act, the
apparent belief that there would then
be opened up one of the richest fields
for private exploitation that American
monopolists have ever had offered
to them. 1t has been said that they
have had their eyes on atomic energy
ever since its discovery, waiting and
ready to get aboard at the first oppor-
tunity, Just as the buccaneers of old
used to board the richly laden galleons
on the Spanish Main.
Taxpayers Paid For 1t
"And, mark you this great bonanza
was completely outside the realm of
possibility until American scientists,
under patriotic urge to strengthen our
national defense through the use of bill
lions of dollars of taxpayers money,
evolved this modern miracle, atomic
energy. Now, if the present Atomic
Energy commission can be ditched or
sidetracked and relieved of its control
of peacetime development of atomic
energy in the public interest, monop-
oily capitalism will have won it's all
history
"When this fight on David Lilien-
thai is viewed against its true back
ground, | am sure that we who repre-
sent the interests of the whole people,
and not the selfish ambitions of a
small group of financial spectators
and profiteers, will defend the Atomic
Energy act and approve with an over
whelming vote the able public servant,
David Lilienthal Mr.. Lilienthal's
loyal and efficient administration of
the IVA, his unquestioned service in
the peoples interests, and his admit
ted qualifications for this new task
are the strongest guarantees that he
will guard and protect the public in
terest in the industrial development of
this great revelation of science made
possible by the taxpayers money.
Supreme Seat of Iniquity
Here in Washington, :. is the peak
of performances of that system of priv !
ate utility propaganda government
which begins in the thousands of towns
and cities of this country. It's capital
is located, as indicated by the lobby |
of its president, one Pur-
cell K. Smith, at 1886 New York ave-
hue. That it is no cheaply financed |
empire is limited at by the recorded /
salary of it's chief executive, namely
his private utility pressure govern +
nent is anybody's guess, for the ex-
)ense accounts and such subterranean
costs are not available to the public.
But it is the public that feels it's pres
sure and never more so than at such
! time as this when a distinguished
!ublic servant is up for confirmation
,efore the senate to post for which
he nation fully recognizes his compe-
ency but whose views on public rights
nay conflict with power-monopoly in
erests.
. " The result of the administra-
i've, policies established by the IVA
nder Mr.. LilienthaPs leadership has
een that the public has ever since
overwhelmingly given support to the
4ilienthal position that multiple-pur-
ose dams should be developed to pro-
ide hydroelectric energy at low cost
or farm, home, and factory; that
loods should be prevented; cheap
avigation fostered; and intelligent
sage of land encouraged. The adj
antages of this multipurposed uniform