To the Editor of the Crimson:

In the editorial of the March 4 issue, of the Crimson concerning Jesse Jones in his various official capacities in the Federal Government Mr. Jones' alleged connection with certain trusts is referred to. In particular, the editorial stated that he had given special privileges to the Aluminum Company of America, and it referred to his company as one of the "worst monopolies in the United States." The editorial proceeds to accuse ALCOA of refusing to expand its production facilities, thus doing untold damage to the Defense Program.

The fact of the matter is that as long ago as 1938, or somewhat before the war started, ALCOA launched a $200,000,000 expansion program. As part of this program, it planned to build a gigantic plant near the Grand Coulee Dam; it applied to Jesse ones for a loan so that it might build the plant, and to Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes for a power permit in order to operate it. Mr. Jones was instrumental in the refusal of the loan, and Mr. Ickes saw to it that the power permit, and it requests were granted. But the plant that was actually built by this competitor was slightly better than microscopic compared to the one ALCOA had planned. How one could pervert incidents such as this into evidence showing that ALCOA refused to expand its facilities is difficult to imagine.

If the Crimson insists on referring to ALCOA as a monopoly, it would seem only fair that it should add that a Federal Judge, Francis G. Caffey, after presiding over the anti-trust proceedings against the company, has ruled that it was not a monopoly, and thus allow the readers the opportunity of choosing their own authority. Roy Potter Perry '43.