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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT What's Back of Gus (Continued from preceding page) stalwart representative. Clyde is an exponent of the new type of ‘‘cooperation’’ that skims the cream off the farmer’s effort just as easily and effectively as did the old-time direct exploitation. He is Gus P. Backman’s source of ‘‘Agricultural’’ inspiration and is a staunch backer of Backman ideas. In addition he is a member of the Utah Manufacturers Association—also a director. The theory that enables Clyde to hold membership in a manufacturers association is that he, rather than the farmer’s chickens, manutactures eges. Almost every executive referred to in the foregoing illustration is also a member of some subordinate club or outside association which is thus brought into the predatory combination. The Farm Bureau, of unsavory repute, is brought into the game by Mr. Eggmonds to keep the farmers away from their natural alhes in legislative projects. Indeed, Mr. Eggmonds was the lobbyist de luxe flitting around the Capitol during the sessions of the 1945 Legislature. He guided the Farm Bureau vote. Associated with Clyde was Gus P. Backman, Stanley J. Stephenson, Tom W. Jensen, and John Jensen, attorney. John Jensen is the over-brilliant counselor who flattened out the proposal of the unions to increase the compensation of dependents of killed workmen from $16 to $20 a week. Mr. Mulock hired Counselor Jensen to do the dirty work. Mulock’s trainmg in thrifty New England convinced him that $16 a week was ample for any widow with a flock of kids. Last but not least of the servants of special privilege who connive against the welfare of workingmen and farmérs in Utah is Louis H. Callister, attorney. Lou is Gus Backman’s advisor on collective bargaining, and a member of the Inner Ring. He is also attorney for the Manufacturers Association and the AntiLabor Relations Council. He is the chief hatchet man in Utah of the evil forces that would degrade workingmen to the status of peons. Lou acts as special counsel for such cheap outfits as Pacific States Cast hron Pipe—O. H. King; Utah Fire Clay—Doug Moffat; ZCMI— Harold Bennett; and kindred low wage concerns whenever regular counsel seem disinclined to stoop to the point of withholding oleo from a workman’s bread. Rehabilitation Continues Governor Maw’s frantic effort to regain a little of his former popularity has moved into high gear. He is going at it with a do or die fervor. His Excellency is being escorted into the rural sections by Tracy R. Welling, a valued and talented personage in the Farm Bureau aristocracy. Tracy, Gus Backman, and Clyde Eggmonds are real dirt farmers and have influence. His Exeellency’s attempted comeback among the farmers is a long story of ridiculous absurdities. With much fanfare and newspaper blah he spent 34% minutes—beneath the cameras—thinning sugar beets as a ges- ture of affection toward the beet growers. But the growers snickered. Handsome Herb won only the hearts of the Utah-Idaho and Amalgamated Sugar companies. And they vote Republican anyhow. Later episodes included an appearance among wool growers, sheepherders, and patting a few sheep on their heads. But the sheep men also vote Republican and curse the New Deal. Finally Tracy took the Governor to Rich- mond to meet the other Grand Champion. And it must be conceded that that turned out to be only a lot of bull. And bulls don’t vote— particularly Democratic. If the Governor thinks the Farm Bureau aristocracy can help him he ought to be forthright enough to act directly through Clyde EKeemonds and Gus P. Backman who pull most of the wires and actually run the show from behind the scenes. Of course, 1t may be that they have assigned Tracy to the job. |
