OCR Text |
Show THE SEARCHLIGHT What’s Back of Gus (Continued from page 1) findings of our two year investigation of: the Chamber. You may have a clearer picture of Who Owns the Chamber. You may also obtain light on Who Rules the Economic and Political Life of Utah. ‘Two years ago in an article on kilowatt activities, we published an under-statement setting forth that Utah Power & Light Company could muster a minimum of 84 votes in the Chamber. We opined that with a nestego or nucleus of 84 wide-awake votes, an efficient operator like George M. Gadsby could dominate any organization in Utah. Our calculations were ‘based on 24* member- ships in the Chamber, bought outright by Power Company at $60 per, together with ilar votes of gas and telephone utilities, related or affiliated electric concerns like eral Electric, Traction, Westinghouse, Graybar. the simand Genand day we see can (radsby the forest report can control eof poley with over for the trees’’. certainty 300 votes that on To- Mr. matters or organization. We ean also assert with the same definite certainty that Utah Copper, The Smelting Industry, Insurance companies, Railroads, and a number of other absentee-owned corporations who always act in concert with the Power Company can do the same thing. ‘They perform as a unit. Any differences that may arise between them are ironed out in private negotiations. The hold of those absentee-owned corporations on the Chamber is iron-clad. Indeed, they are the Chamber. The unorganized, inarticulate home-towners are only tolerated for purposes of window dressing. real to 17 memberships. authority. Onee in a while a professional a contractor, man a banker, or who will keep in step with the inner cirele, is made president. But the ef- ficient Gus and powerful committees guard the official from eeconomie and political heresies that might recover a few dimes from absenteeowned business. Besides, the soil of the Bee- hive State is not too fertile for unrestrained production of independent views. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce has a total membership of about 645. Of that number about 60 are on the ragged edge of mem- bership. They are rather critical of the Chamber’s methods and aims, and are quite lukewarm about continued affiliation with agents unscrupulous Perhaps another business interests. hundred are troubled with similar doubts but lack the get-up to do much about it. They appear to be content to let matters drift along. A third contingent of about the same number is more concerned with what it may obtain in two-bit benefits for itself in return for its support of the policies of the big shots. Its principles seem to have been inherited from gypsy horse traders. The remaining 385 members are made up of direct representatives of absentee-owned corporations and more or less willing allies from loeal business econeerns who have absorbed the passion of the National Association of Manufacturers with for ruthless exploitation no holds barred. Thus, a predatory satiable pillagers sometimes Those No Salt Lake City or Utah policy unacceptable to absentee-owned corporations in control has even a remote chance of winning the approval *Since reduced the of certain But further observation and inquiry over the two-year period has made it clear that we ‘‘ecouldn’t or support of the Chamber. In every deal the cards are stacked against the home people. Independents and little people haven’t a ghost of a chance. They are permitted to function only as a local front for the interests that possess in leaders holds person, excel assemblage sway led ‘by in- in the Chamber; sometimes in under-cover by proxy. manipula- tion and in artistic conniving. With the exception of George M. Gadsby and one or two others who oceasionally appear before service elubs, they are seldom heard from. Gus P. (Continued on following page) |