The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-01-09

veryors of the perfume, just what is
creeping socialism" and what causes
it to "creep." To do that it's necessary
to examine the methods utilized by
some of the contributors to the prop
uganda and analyze a specific case
or two which will clearly indicate
that some of these contributors to the
NTEA funds are equally, if not more
responsible, for the creeping social
ism" than those they do vigorously
criticise.
MONTANA POWER, ONE OF
MAIN CONTRIBUTORS
One of the main contributors to
the NTEA funds in the state of Mon
tana is the Montana Power Co. (self-
styled "Your Electric Co.. Just here
| wish to say that the term is mis-
homer, you consumers have certainly
paid for it but you are still a long
way from owning it. 1t might be of
considerable interest to investigate
the record of profits made by this
company in the last year or two in
Montana alone. Just remember while
you are doing so that these recorded
profits are profits accrued after all
expenses of generation, distribution,
salaries, wages, replacement, depreci-
alton, and new equipment have been
paid.
Now the Montana Power Com
pany's ("Your Electric COZ pet
peeve about creeping socialism" is
the "co-ops" particularly the Rural
Electric Administration co opera
tives, because they, according to
"Your Electric Co.'S" propaganda, in
terfere with the individual initiative
or "free enterprise" of private cleo
| trio companies. (How many of those
are there in Montana?)
fYour Electric Co." through adj
vertisements and the NTEA propa-
ganda hurls anathema and invective
at all co-ops as Creeping socialism"
and endeavors through legislative ac-
ton to hinder, hamper and penalize
co-ops in their development.
The question arises then, are these
co-ops a form of creeping social
ism?" The answer to that must be a
frank yes. One of the fundamental
principles of socialism is democratic
cooperation. That far the NTEA
and "Your Electric Co.'S" propaganda
is factual but they do not tell you |
what brought about the organization
of these co-ops or why they are
increasing in number lit |
is barely possible that the propaganda
lists are too simple to know, but |
hardly think so.)
To best illustrate the reason for
these co operatives and their
constant increase despite the or
ganized opposition | will cite a
e-ao.Es, x.yIsrh
the immediate locality in which
reside and which is comparable to
dozens, yes probably thousands of
SIMILAR cases throughout the state.
"Your Electric Co." has dam and
generating plant at Thompson Falls
approximately $4,000 XIV
and transmission line for this power
up Prospect creek over
Burke hill to Wallace and kellogg
with substation at Grow creek, 13
miles up Prospect creek from Thomp-
son Falls.
For several years, prior to my resi-
1ence on Prospect creek, the resi-
dents in this valley, most of them
having land Immediately adjacent to
Or actually crossed. by this power line,
mad tried to induce wYour Electric
Co." to provide them with elecric
service, but the result was "no dice. !"
Your Electric Co." refused and even
1T the Grow creek substation such
electric light as was to be had (for
,wo residences and other buildings)
vas provided by a Delco plant and
gas engine.
Now while l am a confirmed Soc
alist, albeit not the Creeping" kind,
md prefer the cooperative method
% our so-called "free enterprise !
am still something of Crank
lbout efficiency and dislike to see
IN unnecessary duplication of eff
'ort or facilities, so l had hoped !
hat "Your Electric Co." having al ,
'eady a pole line constructed would
zee the logic and common sense in
this service under the "free
~ enterprise" system. However, af-
er period of several years it be-
tame evident that this was either
beyond their comprehension or was
IN immaterial consideration So
Creeping socialism" started
creeping" up Prospect creek.