The Detroit times., 1917-11-22
These Resources Should
BE Developed In the Name
OF the COuntry's People!

vi AAtA NTVNAAAA -
The United States was at peace, peo-
pie were couteutedly at their work and
There was no war cloud anywhere when
this newspaper first enlisted in the fight
for conservation Of the country natural
resources
Little proqrcs was made IN that droe-
ton. however, AID n spite Of fhe '.ror-
ous campaign conducted ~ men H1e
Clifford Pnchot supported by newspa-
pers independent Of eapitaH de iuten-
they continued in Washington to Pedale
these resources into private hands for
continued mulctmg Of the paa.c.
Efforts 10 awaken vs. a.ngton proved
futile. but &c may be. now tn United
States is at war it wT-daen won our
lawmakers that tho coaservatorisf
were engaged in q Ine Of en4eavor ooS-
ing toward the needs of tile country At
this time.
in this struggle Of war our security
requires as TO use all Of our resources
and 10 use them wisely and Well
Among other things, the people own
some 50,000000 undeveloped horsepow-
er, or what is estimated TO be nearly
enough to run every train. trolley. fac
tory, mill. nine and electric power plant
we have
For 10 years the consevationists
urged the development Of this water
power in the public interest. bat deyeI-
opment was held back by a little group
of magnates and THEM friends in congress
who were able to block legislation
Today, when the nation needs all its
resources, the same men who have been
blocking reasonable waterpower legisla-
ton, own and are holding millions of
water horsepower undeveloped and out
Of use while clamoring for more.
Now, according to the declaration Of
Clifford Pinchot, whose heart and soul
have been given to the effort to save the
peoples wealth to the people, the time
has come when such obstruction threat
ems the nations safety and success. He
declares we need the development of
these powers in war even more than in
peace, and recommends that at the COM
ing session of congress sound water
power legislation should be enacted as a
war measure, based upon principles fair
to all sides. These principles ne outlines
as follows
The thing 70 DO with waterpower is ~ develop
H. Whatever retards or restricts The develop.
mert Of public waterpowers on terms fair 70 the
public is against public policy and hostile 10 the
general welfare
Waterpower belongs to the people The sites
where il Is produced should always be held in
public hands. for only so can effective control In
the general interest be secured.
where public development Is not desired tho
right 90 use waferpower sites should b. leased
for periods IONS enough 90 permit sound attrac-
tive. and profitable investment bur never longer
than so years Al The end Of each lease ali
rights should return to The people who gave
them.
In order 70 protect the consumer against OK.
tortion. rates and service should be regulated by
federal authority when state OF local suthorites
Reasonably prompt and complete development
and continuous operation. subject 20 market con-
dtions. should be- required Already millions 0f
water horsepower are heid oui Of use 70 further
monopoly By private corporations
Corporations or individuals who mako money
out Of rights granted by the people should STARE
their proAiH with the people
The public has right 'o complete information
about every business based on tho use Of pubic
property
This is no time TO give away public
assets necessary for the welfare Of our
people both in the war and AFTER the
war and we should no longer tolerate the
selhshness Of private interests which
take the dog-in-the-manger position that
they must have these watelpowers on
their own terms. or no one shall use them
at ALL
Nothing To Surprise