The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-09
power ISSUE
LOOMS BIG IN
HOOVER drive
Takes Up AIS Challenge in
Declaring for U. S.
Operation.
BY THMOAS L. STOKES,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-Herbert
Hoover had brought the power issue
prominently into his presidential
campaign today.
He took up the power challenge
flung at him repeatedly by his Dem
ocratic opponent, Alfred E. Smith,
and made a statement on Muscle
Shoals, one of the two major water
power projects over which Congress
has disputed for years. In this he
laid down this policy:
l. Continued Government owner
ship of Muscle Shoals.
2. Dedication of the Government
power and nitrate plants there to
agricultural research and develop
ment of fertilizer, as well as their
preservation for war time emer-
fency for manufacture Of nitrates
for explosives.
3. Sale of surplus power not de-
voted to these purposes by the Gov
eminent ION such terms and condi-
lions as will safeguard and protect
all public interest"
Power as By-PrOduct
The Republican presidential can
didate, in his statement issued Mon
day night, indicated he does not
view the project, as does Senator
George Norris of Nebraska, as
primarily a power project and as the
possible site of a great Government
power development as such. He
emphasized the agriculture and fer
tilizer phases, calling electric power
a "by-product."
He virtually pledged himself, how
ever, to cheap power for the con-
sumner. AS originally drawn, the
Norris bill set aside only a small
amount of power for fertilizer ex-
perimentation, but as passed by
Congress it made this the major
purpose, similar to Hoover'S plan,
with power secondary considera-
ton. President Coolidge gave the
measure a pocket Veto"
His statement was issued after an
interview with him published in the
Knoxville News-Sentinel, Scripps-
Howard newspaper, had been ques-
toned by his spokesman, who said
Hoover's statements had been mis-
understood"
Answers Written Inquiry
The United Press then submitted
to Hoover a written inquiry asking
for Qualification of his Muscle Shoals
position.
Some discussion" Hoover replied
in formal statement, "has arisen
in connection with Muscle Shoals.
II stated at Elizabethton that:
"I do not favor any general extern
sion of the Federal Government into
the operation of business in compe-
tition with it's citizens.
IT further stated that:
"Threre are local instances where
the Government must enter the busl-
ness field as a by-product OF some
great major purpose as Improvement
in navigation, flood control. sclen-
tific research or national defense.
But they do not vitiate the general
pollok to which we should adhere.
THE, news item from Knoxville
specifically states;
asked concerning the reference
In his speech as to the desirablllty OF
Government ownership in certain
instances Mr.. Hoover said:
''You may say that means Mus
Gle Shoals
I'm this statement was correctly
quoted.
Dedicated to Agriculture
"There is no question of Govern
ment ownership about Muscle
Shoals as the Government already
owns both the power and the nj
trate plants. The major purposes
which we're advanced for its con-
strlIction were navigation, scien-
tif1c research and national defense.
1.-THE Republican administration
has recommended that it be ded1-
Gated to agriculture for research
purposes and development of fer
tilizers in addition to its national
defense reserve. After these pur-
poses are satisfied there is by
product of surplus power.
THAT by-product should be dis
posed of on such terms and condi-
lions as will safeguard and protect
all public interest.
Il entirely agree with these pro-
posals."