Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1916-05-18
THE MAN WHO BUILT 1T.

Scrvntion, they have been locked out
of use by Inadequate laws. American
capital and investors have sought To
develop the water powers and estub-
fish the new Industries dependent upon
cheap power, which would make US
free of the Chilean MONOPOLY. but the
laws have said mo" To induce in
yestment In these Industries investors
must have assurance Of reasonable Sc.
curity and some hop" of fuir return or
profit, and the laws deny either the
security "r hope Of return
To no class Of American citizens does
this situation come home So closely.
perhaps, rs I" tn" farmers. There is
absolutely no relief in sight from the
high prices of fertilizers ur for fertile.
ers Mt all. except through Development
OF cheap water powers
Not only does the water power qucs
ton affect the future Of fertilizer sup
ply and prices. hut 1t IL closely related
TO the labor question. For several
years farm labor LaS been increasingly
expensive and hard To- secure Immi-
grafton has stopped uni is not likely to
be resumed for years or generations to
come. Europe Will need all the men
she has left after the war. Cuuserva.
ton Of American labor means abolish.
ment Of unnecessary work and the re
leasing Of wurkmcn for better occupa
lions.
Our Undevsloped Water Power.
II
there il now undeyelopcd in this coun.
try about 3j,vJD,HD horsepower Of wa.
ter power To develop and use even
half OF this means conserving the labor
of 3D,Opp men now employed in coal
mining. II applied to furnish power
for present uses 1t would relieve the
railroads OF the United States Of the
necessity Of transporting more than
llObD.bp tons Of coal Il year most of
it for their own use.
Electritrntiun OF the railroads means
better and cheaper transportation. To
bring 3uOu-p men from the bowels Of
the earth ard put them to work in the
sunshine. in factories and on the farms.
means not only II new supply of farm
and manufacturing labor, hut lettering
the condition Of these men and making
this county better place to live III
from every human point uf view.
Iiut to ret these results, t. get any
development aud use Of water power
we first must have federal legislation
that will open the water powers to
Use. The United States senate the 9th
er day passed the Shields hill by a
vote of III To %. This measure gives
water power companies the right IN.
der careful restrictions tn dam naviGa.
bic streams and build power plants
therein hill providing for leasing
of power sites In the public domain
has passed the house and is now being
debated In the senate. Certain men
and interests are trying to defeat the
purpose of this constructive and henc-
fetal legislation by loading II up with
unw"rkalIc terms and conditions.
They are making charge, and state
mentS, generally vague and containing
more inuucudu than argument. intend
rl to create suspicion and miStrust
and prevent legislation. II bchooves
the American manufactures the Amer
lean farmer the American citizen who
has any direct. indirect or patriotic in
tcrcSt in tii~ subject to study this
legislation for himself and arrive at his
own conclusions
A Suggestion to Citizens.
ImSlrIu of taking the opinion of