The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-02-01


Full control over, lair provisions
for retaking, and a royalty upon
each horsepower of developed power
or energy should be Incorporated in
any plan providing for the develop
ment or exploitation of the public
waters of the United States by pri-
yate capital. Therefore, shall fav-
or only such measures having to do
with grants or license touching the
development of the water power of
the country as will retain full con-
troll thereover in the interests of
the general public, provide for retak-
ing on fair terms and permit the use
and appropriation of such water
power only upon the payment of a
fair royalty upon the electrical en-
ergy or power developed therefrom.
1t shall be my purpose to demon
strate that one of the water power
bills pending in Congress at this
time and much exploited in this
state as bearing the name of the
senior senator does not properly safe
guard the interests of the public,
and in my opinion would result in
utterly depriving the people of their
water power and in vesting prac-
tically perpetual control thereof in
private monopoly-without profit to
the people and virtually at their ex-
'pense.
More Ample Protection for Missis-
sippi River.
The Mississippi River is not only
a great natural highway, but is in
effect vast drainage canal carry
ing away the waters falling upon
the higher and northern parts of
this country and disposing of them
and the accompanying silt along the
lower reaches of the river, or in the
Gulf of Mexico. The annual dam
ages to property upon our western
border from this great unshackled
torrent run up into the millions of
dollars. In my opinion the lands in
the states bordering upon this great
national highway and drainage ca
nal-over which the states have no
sort of control--should be more
amply protected from ravages by re-
curing floods, entirely at the ex-
pense of the general government.
Progressive Legislation for Labor.
Believing that labor, whether up
on the farm or in the workshop or in
any of the forms of human activity,
has the same right to protection I'M
der the law as does capital created
by labor, / shall favor such progress
sive legislation as may be necessary
to place labor upon the same footing
with capital in the matter of organi-
cation, and to assure 1t just recon-
pense as the fruit of its efforts.
For Adequate Protection to Farmers.
The farming interests, constituting
the backbone and reserve strength of
this country, should be fostered and
developed by the application of the
best thought and practical expert
ence of the age. AS experience may
show the necessity therefor, there
should be additional legislation maxi
ing adequate provisions for working
capital thru loans on farms at such
rates of interest as usually obtain
in cases of other borrowers of like
responsibility; and securing such
of farmers organizations
as may be necessary to- safeguard
their interest and protect their prod
ucts against the profiteer and pri-
vate monopoly in the interest both
of the producing farmer and the ul-
innate consumer.
Universal Military Training for
National Defense.
Believing that to be prepared for
war is to safeguard the peace and
happiness of our country, / am in
favor of system of universal mill
tary training.
Whether this system should be in
augurated during the course and
amid the complex conditions of the
war may be open to question. 1t
might interfere with or so confuse
plans now being worked out as to
impede their progress or cripple their
efficiency. But in my opinion at the
earliest time consistent with the
country's needs and interests uni
versal military training should be
made the fixed policy for national
defense.
Such system, placing the sons
of all classes, rich and poor alike,
upon the same footing in respect of
training and education, is the most
democratic ever devised. Plans
should be worked out providing not
only for military training of youths
but also permitting the carrying on,
during such training, of vocational
studies, fitting them for the duties of
life-all at the expense of the gem
eral government, and which would
be insignificant compared with the
enormous sums necessary to carry on
this war. Such course of training
with accompanying educational ia
cilities might be carried on in
schools or colleges especially design
ed for that purpose, or thru and by
of institutions of Tearing now
in existence.
1t is not necessary to speak to the
people of Tennessee, observant of
the effects of military training upon
their sons for even few months, as
to the benefits necessarily resultant
from such training, especially in
teaching them discipline and the
best methods of caring for them
selves. Such system would not be
entirely novel to the people of Ten
nessee. Its principle was approved
by our forefathers, who early in the
last century enacted laws requiring
between the ages of
eighteen and forty-five to undergo |
military training for a certain num- |