The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-07-04
CONTROL OF UNUSED WATER
POWER BY THE STATE.

adopted:
We favor the control and pro-
motion by the state of the de-
yelopment Of the unused water
power and in order that the
same may be done we declare for
the submission to the people or
the necessary amendment to the
state constitution,
The introduction of this resolution
seems to have created the only excit-
ing controversy in the convention, but
40 far as the Miner can discover there
Is nothing contained in it that should
provoke serious friction except In the
mind of some one who Is looking for
trouble. 1t is said by Boise paper,
and in manner evidently intended
to be a reflection upon Senator Borah,
that the resolution was introduced lat
the urgent request" of the SENATOR
conveyed to the republican state plat
form convention in a secret letter
Just what is meant by "a secret let
ter" is not very clear. All letters are
secret until the writer or receiver
makes them public and as the resolu-
ton merely gives expression to the
well known attitude of Senator Borah
on the water power question, 1t Is
evident that he could have no motive
in keeping the letter secret, in
deed there was such letter. For
many years Senator Borah, as well as
other western senators and represen-
tatives, have advocated state control
OF power sites and water power as OPP
posed to their control by the federal
government, and in this he has un-
questionably voiced the prevailing
sentiment of the people of the west
without regard to party. Why should
not the republican party Of Idaho take
stand on this question which Is OF
such vital Importance to the state
But even If there is valid ground for
objection to state control, the resolu
tion provides for giving 1t free ano
full expression by declaring "for the
submission to the people of the nee
essary amendment to the constitu'
ton" Surely the opponents of the
resolution do not desire to be under.
stood as opposed to giving the people
an opportunity to vote on the question
and that in reality is all that the re.
solution calls for at this time.
1t is also charged that the resolu.
ton was presented as a bid for the
support of the Non Partisan league
but this charge is in a great measure
refuted by the fact as stated above
that state control Of water power has
pttI SuNoSdtSu NY pOAoto' Doi
all and other opponents of the conser'
walton policy of the national govern
ment long before the Non Partisan
league came into existence We have
never heard before that the Non Par
tisan league even favored it, and Il
&c Sty, onnfhar aya m nj.
OF a radical reform organization ad
vocating, among it's impractical fad.
and foibles, a measure of real merit
The opponents of the resolution
seemed to be greatly concerned ovel
the effect state control of water powell
would have upon the great power
companies now operating in the state
and even went so far as to intimate
that its adoption of the resolution was
a direct step toward confscation o
their property. OF course there IL
nothing In the resolution to sugges
such q conclusion. 1t says Speclncai
ly Control and promotion by the stat
of the development of the unused
water power" 1t does not even sa!
that the state is going into the power
business. 1t does imply, however, tina
the state is going to exercise a mor'
direct control in the utilization Of
great resource to the end that the peo
Pile may share it's benefits upon thu
payment Of reasonable and just ser
vice rates, and naturally this system
will he extended to power companie!
already in existence. 1t is not likely
that the state will engage in the power
business, but the idea embodied II
the resolution seems to be that i
win encourage the development of un