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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT 3 What’s Editor’s Note: This is the Back fifth in a series of articles exposing the makeup, politics, and shady activities of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Manufacturers Association, and allied and satellite organizations. While some of these articles do not deal directly with the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, readers must not forget that the Inner Ring of the Chamber is the dominant, policymaking clique from which all of the associated organizations draw their inspiration and take their cue. Gus P. Backman is the vocal front for the Inner Ring. He coordinates programs, plans, and activities. He is the fixer de luxe for business concerns with an axe to grind. He pulls the strings, gives an artistic touch to their conniving, and with a hallowed shouting tenor, makes as a politi- most of the noise. Predatory corporations value Gus cal mediator, and a clever, effective hatchet man. They like the way he draws most of the fire while they lick up the gravy. Gus runs_ the Chamber-Association-Service Club show for the big boys to their complete satisfaction. There leading is plenty members of of evidence the Utah to show that Manufacturers Association had a bad case of ants in their pants following receipt of a circular letter® from the Searchlight a month ago. But in spite of their nervousness, not a single officer of the Association made a direct reply. The replies so far received—both roundabout and direct—were from Association mem- belong to the bers who merely bers who have little or nothing outfit—memto do with the Association’s corrupt political slush fund. Such members have little to say either the Chamber of Commerce, or in the in Manu- They merely pay fees facturers Association. and serve as window dressing behind which predatory corporations like Utah Copper Company, Utah Power & Light Company, exercise a baleful and public policy. influence ete., may on Utah _ polities “The circular letter sent to every member of was pubUtah Manufacturers Association the lished in the June 11th issue of the Searchlight. of G Business concerns represented by such members furnish an atmosphere of decency and legitimacy for all business. Adam 8. Bennion always leans on them for moral support in his endless and wholly hypocritical gyrations about ‘‘F'ree Enterprise’’. Under the persuasive oratory of avid Adam an inoffensive bakery, a eafe, or a clothing store easily becomes the moral shield to cover a kilowatt gouge of 14% millions a year from Utah rate payers. Aside from their cash contributions and the mantle of respectability they furnish to the real villains of the economic drama, ordinary have businesses little in common with, and no usefulness, to the Inner Ring of the of Commerce and the Manufacturers Chamber Assn. The silence of the officers and directors of the Utah Manufacturers Association is_ elo- quent. of them The of Searchlight’s the existence letter of a advised corrupt each slush fund operated for several years under the It asked that they name of ‘‘Build Utah’’. consent to a public audit by certified public accountants so that the people might have comabout the and accurate information plete erookedness of the ‘‘Build Utah’’ setup, and the corporation executives who did the manipulating. isn’t any secret that Utah Power & Light Company’s ante in the Manufacturers’ slush fund Indeed, when the Securities & was $2,000 a year. Exchange Commission filed a complaint in Federal Court in Salt Lake City a year ago, the Company hastened to confess judgment without trial. Kilowatt executives didn’t dare face the issues in open court. Nor is it a secret that Stanley J. Stephenson, It executive secretary of the Manufacturers Association—a confederate of Gus—ran around town like a scared rabbit during the Federal investigation. Stan was apprehensive about being taken He wasn’t sure he liked the out of circulation. depressing climate of eastern Kansas as an abiding place where he might meditate upon his sins, or perhaps concoct new schemes to debauch Utah politics. With those and (Continued other on incriminating following page) facts |