Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-23

Great developments would have re.
suited and portion Of the profit,
from them would have gone into the
pubic treasury instead Of all of /,
having gone into private fortunes
Gentlemen of Mr.. Gulnacs views
would give away our water resources
ana thus repeat the timberl and
CALAMITY or sixty years ago. He
properly may be called 4 member OF
the corporate school. out Of sympathy
with modern ideas as to the rights OF
the public in the States natural re.
sources.
One of the Vice Presidents of the
Central Maine Power COMPANY. Hon
Guy +. Gannett Of Augusta, who has
large interest in timberlands and
water powers as we'll as in certain
newspapers that bitterly ATTACK
every move to protect the rights OF
the people in the water resources OF
the State, also was in attendance at
the meeting, il his newspaper had q
correct account of it. This gentle.
man cannot be classed as an impart.
lal observer as he has q direct per.
sonal interest in water power COM
panies. He also Is Republican Ma.
tional Committeeman, a position that
gives him certain following amons
those who instinctively follow party
leadership. and this being SO poll
tics" are brought into the question
at the very start. His Affiliations are
well understood. and being a CO.
director and co-benefciary with Mr.
Walter S. Wyman. one of the Ken
nebec" concessionaries, he can hardly
be expected to make an impartial
contribution to the proposed "Fact
Finding" Board.
DR.. Walter L. Elwell Of Portland
the President Of the Associated In
dustries. an organization of which
Judge Benjamin +. Cleaves is EXecu-
tive Secretary. is alleged to favor the
Truth Telling" PLAN Water powers
naturally would appeal to these
gentlemen from a somewhat onesided
view point. as the Associated Indus
tries. being an association of cor
porations and large business inter
ests, depend for it's existence upon
corporate, support.
One of the newspapers referred tc
Hon. Arthur r. Gould. a citizen OF
Pressure Isle. in connection with this
meeting. Mr.. Gould is the owner OF
practically all the water powers and
electrical plants in Aroostook Coun.
ty. He has deserved success and has
achieved it. 1t is interesting to re-
call that the S0th G92D Legislature
gave him water storage rights OF
great value. and whatever he may
say on the water question Of course
would be colored by his interest in
his several corporations.
! have given the background OF
some of those who seek to Tell the
Truth" about Maine Water Power
Their findings will make interesting
reading but will carry little weight
for these gentlemen cannot be ex-
pected to rise above their immediate
surroundings and take stand
against their own self-interest
Fact" findings and Truth" feelings
of a committee whose sponsors rep
resent the corporate interests OF
Maine will not make deep impress
sion upon impartial and disinterested
citizens.
Present Day Lobby
1t often has been stated that tho
Lobby maintained by corporations
at Augusta 20 or 80 years ago was
more powerful than that of today
and | once inclined to that view. My
recent experiences have shown me &c
be in error. The water power lobby
of 1923 at Augusta was almost invinc-
ible. Legislative agents. or lobby
lists. were summoned from every
county in the State: they appeared
upon the scene overnight and the
corridors were crowded with them
They actually We're to be found al
every turn. inside and outside leEis-
lative halls. 1t is interesting to note
that the States official record show:
that 6T lie legislative agents" were Off
cially registered at Augusta during
the S1st Legislative session. and NJ
account was made of those who acteC
in an unofficial capacity. Surely
with all the good advice that these
gentlemen were ever ready to give
the Legislature should not have gone
far astray! In view of the fate OF
the kennebcc charter. Legislators
hereafter are likely to regard lobby
lists with some suspicion.
The lobby situation is both trouble
some and dangerous and, in my opin
ion If allowed to continue. future legis
IL tive sessions in the State of Maine
will he dominated by water power
lobby that will control legislation will
an iron hand. 1t is not easy to over
estimate the power OF these men
mostly lawyers. well paid. rcsourcefu
cannot carry their point by fiatterI
they bring pressure to bear from al
sides. They pursue legislators unit
they wear them out by one means oil
another. They are not concerned witt
party lines and use Republicans anC
Democrats to equal advantage. Theirs
is an occupation for business only
and principles mean nothing to them
They block the road to progress. and
when / see that steps already have
been taken to procure the election OF
water power sympathizers. and mer
the lobby can rely upon or control, as
members of the next tS2ndD LeRisla'
ture regardless of their party aftilia-
lions | am apprehcnsive of the future
Door Open for Compromise
In my official Dead River Proclama-
ton I left open the door for COM
promise and for the encoura cement OF
private development. ! stated that if
and when, private corporations are pre-
pared to pay the State fair rental fol
leases of State-owned water resources
will call a special session of the
Legislature to consider the proposition
In fact I would like to have storage
developments actually started during
the summer of 1923 if the States in
tCreSt III tnem IS properly pTotcCteu.
Some newspapers in the State re-
peatedly are emphasizing the precari'
Gus condition of Names industries
This is an unfortunate practice and
we'll may be a part of the propaganda
of the water power interests who seek
to bring to terms our legislature and
our people by alarming them over ar
imaginary crisis. Stories are fire.
Guently published about industries that
threaten to move out of Maine. emo
some pessimists would have it appea,
that our State was entering upon ar
industrial decline. The very same
newspapers that publish these depress'
ing statements unwittingly contain sta
tistcs of a very different color show
ing that Ollr indu StrieS have grown