The Washington times., 1909-01-01
Former Ohio Governor Not
Popular AS a Possible
Cabinet Man.
CORPORATION WORK
HELD AGAINST HIM
Affiliations With Colorado Fuel and
Iron Called TO Taft's At
tentIon.
BY ]. c. WELLIVER.

y
The candidacy Of Myron #. Ierrick,
of Ohio, for Secretary of the Treasury
has experienced "A head-on collision
with the conservation movement
The conservation people are all
against BIr. Herrick, according 10 re-
port which comes TO Washington, espe-
cially from the far West 1t is charged
that he is identified with some Of the
colossal financial interests OF the coun-
try. whose relations to both the water
power and the lumber business are such
as TO make it quite unlikely that Mr.
IIerrick could view with entire impair
TALLY the proposals which the con-
servatiOntsts want urged
The particular thing which is pre-
scented in derogation of Mr.. Herrick's
claims is that he Is head of the Colo
RADIO Power Company. This company
has been giving concern 10 the Re
clamation Service and the Forest Serv-
ice for a long time. 1t is capitalized
at S50,000,O00, and its purpose is to aC-
quire and develop water powers
throughout the country, to convert the
water power into electricity, and TO sell
that wherever it may be wanted
The particular charge against the
Colorado Power Company is that it is
one of a chain of concerns which are
alleged to be related intimately to the
Rockefeller group of capitalists, ana 10
aim at monopoly of the natural power
of the West.
Government Losing Grip.
The Government officers who have
been making the appraisal Of natural
resources have been impressed with the
fact that in no other field is the Gov
eminent losing its grip on its resources
so fast. as i'm the matter OF water pow
ers. President Roosevelt has urged
That especial effort be made to prevent
these resources going into the hands Of
private holders whose control would
ultimately give them immense POwer;
ana last session of Congress he vetoed
one important bill. which proposed TO
give away a valuable power Ia the lar
Northwest.
The group of concerns with which Mr..
Ilerrick is connected have gathered in
about everything I'm western Colorado
which is Of either present or potential
value for water power.
A year or two ago she Reclamation
Service decided on q very important
project in western Colorado, for the de-
NelOpment OF which ID wanted TO use
the famous. Gore canyon. Engineers
were sent out To make preliminary sur
covered ahead of them.
Trust Beats Uncle Sam.
Investigation developed that the Colo
RADIO Power Company had not only sur
veyed the canyon. but that it had Sc
cured control Of it, and that the Gov
eminent was frozen out of the canyon.
and with 1t perhaps the best reclsms-
ton reservoir site on the Continent
This experience served to center at
tenuou on this company, and IT has been
watched ever since. Its agents, OF those
OF some of the affiliated concerns. are
literally everywhere, looking mp power
propositions and securing such advau-
taEes as viii enable them 10 take pos
session later. The concerns have no
apparent limits in the matter of avail
able capital
II is declared by the Interior Depart
meut ana other people who have had
coca sion 10 look into this series of
WsteTpower operations that at the bot
tom Is the STANDARD OIL group. the
United Gas Improvement Company of
Philadelphia with a huge series of gas
and electric Investments all over the
country is "a factor, being also re-
garded as q STANDARD side l-"e. then
come the various concerns that are at
ter the water powers.
Wants Monopoly.
Thus il seems to c0utemplte a m0n0D-
oIv OF aIi the forms or illumination. and
Of a large part OF the power of the couH-
try
Since the report was circulated that
Air. HerTick might be Tafts Secretary
OF The Treasury. the opposition has
Camtered strongly ~:th circulation. in
places where fl would dc most good. of
these stories OF the Herrick affiliations.
1T Is said that the reports have been
carried directly 90 judge Taft with a
good deal OF specification and detail,
auG that This has been largely TcsDGn-
-iUit Tor o. UeaTIEl movement iu tine
lICrrIck treasury stocks
Little has been heard of late about the
Ohio man ass the successor of C'0rleIyOu,
au1 the impression Is growing that he is
about out or consideration. His general
Eastern business Affiliations have not
been calculated 10 strengthen him lu the
West and Central West where Doe has
LONG been represented as an Ohio rep
resenuative Of the powers of Wall Street
Meyer Stands Chance.
With AIR. IerricE's star ou the wane.
THE opinion prevails that the chances
of Postmaster Meyer remaining in the
cabinet and going 20 the Treasury, are
Better Meyer has proved himself a
good business man, has "A strong social
backing. and IS possessed Of am es-
uecIaIIy potent sentimental claim ON MIR
Taft. because he was one OF the little
group Of influential men who pulled
New England around 10 Taft at "a time
when ID threatened % 20 agaigst him,
and thus turn tho aute-couveutiCu TO
the allies as against the Ohio Cmdi-
date.