The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
SMALL COMFORT


 The endorsement by the Honorable John w. Davis, in his masterly speech of acceptance, of the inherent right of the public to foster great natural assets, the title to which should be conserved in the public interest, will be small com fort, indeed, for that group who have so unsuccessfully sought to make Muscle Shoals the private asset of coterie of power companies who have sought to em- ploy this great natural resources as means to exploit the public through the agency of home essential.
 There has been much discussion in in- terested quarters, from Secretary Hoover down through the ranks of electrical en- gineers to the advocates of water power monopoly, as to the desirability of super-power system which will make the hydro-electric output available in all states. There is no desire to balk the fullest possible enjoyment by the people of the benefits of water power. But the idea that such a result can be attained only by giving over our great water power sites to grasping monopoly Is as absurd as to hold that the railroads can serve all states only through monopoly. If the water power monopoly is permitted to develop it would be public calamity. There has been opposition to Ford's offer for Muscle Shoals on the false theory that power would thus be withdrawn from industry. No argument could be more absurd, for the surplus power de- veloped at Muscle Shoals will be turned to the driving of the wheels of. industry just as surely and just as efficiently as through any super-power system. Be- sides, such a disposition of the Shoals would create competition for the power trust and not turn the public over bound hand and foot and pocketbook to the power monopoly.
 MT. Davis leaves no doubt as to his position nor of his approval of the plank in the Democratic platform directly at variance with what the power companies wanted and with what it was the subtle effort of the power companies to get through a voice in the writing of the Democratic platform. In conformity with his assertion that the Democratic party is against favoring "the few pos sessors of swollen incomes beyond the many of moderate means" he said that the party had been guided throughout the years by "a belief in. equal rights to all men and special privilege to none, in the separation of private monopoly as thing indefensibIe and intoierable." MT. Davis says with specific respect to the control of our water powers by monop- olies: eve shall prevent the hands of monopoly from closing on our water powers"
 And what is the Republican record with respect to our resources? In his speech last week at Seagirt, MT. Davis made answer in this wise: "The policy of con servation, for which Presidents RoOse- welt and Wilson had. fought so valiantly, was thrown to the winds prop erty of the government and resources of the nation have been bartered away" But they have not all been bartered away, There is still time to rescue our magnificent water powers from those who would exploit them as 8 privileged monopoly, and to administer them in such a manner as to contribute to the lasting welfare of the people. The water power trust has sought to sit in the in- nermest councils of government and to enwrap it's arms about our most valuable power sources as an emolument of priv ilege. But 1t has not succeeded, and the election of the Democratic party to power with John W. Davis as president, means that such sinister purpose shall be forever thwarted.
 Indeed, where will the associated power group and their satellites so on election day? To Coolidge with his declaration of equal rights for the "colored man" when referring to the congressional con- test in New York where a negro has of fered for congress? To Davis, stauneh in his position against exploitation of re- sources for the benefit of selfish few? Or LaFollette with his prograH of com stitutional overturn? In charity and kindness let us say that November 7th will be an ideal hunting day!
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 THE OUTCOME IN TEXAS