The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-19

which lie right under the administra- tion's.lnose.
 I'll WRITING POWER MONOPOLY
 The recent activities of the water power trust,in oppositionNo the disposal of the government project at Muscle Shoals in the manner likelysto contribute most to the public welfare Shave brought the thrust into related publicity that it would now perhaps givei great deal to escape. For, as a by-uroduct of the agitation against Henry Ford, public, legislative and official attention has been stlsongly directed to $the manifest program pf water-power monopoly on the part of q ertain associated :icompanies in various st ates. Inasmuc h: las electric en- ergy deri>, ,ed from waters flow appears destined! mbre and more to: displace coal as sol arce of industrialS energy, the growing public importance of the con- servationi of this exhaustless and essen tial resource is no longer to be disre- garded.
 Although there was much dsappoint- ment in Alabama over the failure of the last legislature to enact some measure safeguarding ithe remaining power re- serves in this sstate, yet the legislature did memorialfze congress to make sur vey of the potential water power of Ala bama. It was ;;the sense of the legisla- ture that "the water power resources of Alabama constitute .one of the states greatest, most valuable and most endur- ing assets, and it is of vital interest to our people that these resources be de- veioped accordingt to a wise, well-con- sidered and comprehensive plan that will assure the people that such resources will be developed in such a manner, and the peoples interest therein will be so safeguarded that the value of this great asset shall be properly conserved for the lasting benefit of the state." In view of this the legislature asks the federal government to complete in this state the examination already in part undertaken. The legislature perceived that "such re- sources in Alabama under existing con- ditions are now being developed, but in a piecemeal fashion" 1t might be added that the power monopoly is seizing stra- tegic sites, knowing full well that, if it helds the key positions, it will have an advantage over independent operatives who mig ht later desire to enter the field.
 According to dispatches from Wash ington, it appears that not only is there prospect of federal accession to the de- sire of Alabama's legislature, but that the survey will be extended to include other states where power is being pri- vately developed. That our water power resources have gone too long unutilized is no argument for further delay. h. deed, the activities of the power trust, crossing the legitimate field of power development into the field of politics and of government itself, have become real and tangible menace to the public vel fare. It is believed that the hold of the power monopoly upon the government has been so strong as already to have delayed the public benefits from Muscle Shoals for now period of two years, and at one time was almost influential enough to defeat the entire project.
 The powerful, germicidal light of pub licity, however. .ehas had most healthful effect upon our governmental tissues, so that wholesome regard for the pub lie right is replacing the former disposi- tion secretly and under cover to defraud the people for the sake of forwarding monopoly of the public resources to fat ten private fortunes. Public sentiment in Alabama has put those who would fasten water-power monopoly upon our streams on notice that such policy will no longer be tolefated. The determined stand of the people of Alabama has re- suited in stiffening of the official back bone in Washington. The tide of vic otry has begun to turn in favor of the people.