Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-13
TEXT OF GOV. SMITHS SPEECH

farm families who have Jagged behind
in the march, of progress
IF the endeavors of the past are con-
tinued as promised by Mr.. Hoover, the
/ farmer has nothing to hope for.
know, II were farmer that Is the way
would be compelled to take 1t, unless
were ready TO admit that have nc
understanding of the English language.
There Is no question Of such far
reaching Importance to the people OF
this country today as the development
of electrical energy from falling water,
commonly referred to as water power
It is the last Of our great natural re-
sources, and 1t is threatened with in
vasion at the hands of the power trust
and private monopoly that would use 1t
for private profit and for private gain
Early in this campaign spoke about
talking plainly to the people. In my
speech at Denver over two weeks ago
made definite, clean-cut, concise
declaration of what I believe to be the
development of public water powers.
II said that they should be developed
by the Government, If under Govern
ment control, by State If under State
control, or by group of States If un-
der such control. I have been patient
ly waiting, as must also be the people
of the country, for declaration from
the Republican candidate of just where
he stands with regard to the ownership
of the great publicly-owned water pow
ers of the country.
Cites Hoover Speech.
II believed, and had the right to ex-
pect that speaking in Tennessee, a
State to be greatly benefited by public
operation and control of Muscle Shoals,
he would say something upon the SUBJ
Ject that would give the American
people an understanding of his attitude.
To my great surprise, he did not even
mention Muscle Shoals, but contented
himself with the following general OBJ
servation:
There are local instances where the
Government must enter the business
field as by-product of some great
major purpose such as improvement in
navigation, food control. scientific re-
search or national defense.
i do not know what he can mean by
'by-product' unless 1t is the generation
OF hydro-electric energy.
In another part of the speech he
said that violations of public interest by
individuals or corporations should not
induce us to abandon progressive prin-
ciples and substitute In their place dead
ly and destructive doctrines.
Il would like to know what Mr.. Hoo
yer means by deadly and destructive
doStrines'. Does he refer to Govern
ment ownership and control of water
power sites? If so, why not say it?
What Is to be gained by clothing it In
language that the man on the street is
unable to understand? Is public owner
|
power deadly? Is it destructive doc
trine? II so, why not let Mr.. Hoover
come right out and say I believe in
leasing or In selling or In disposing of,
to private corporations for private de-
velopment and for private profit, The
great water power resources that belong
to all the people?
Declares Position Involved.
THAT would define the issue. But
why evade it? Why conceal 1t behind a
wall OF gh-sounding phrases that leave
IN the minds of SO many thousands of
our people the element OF doubt as to
his exact position on this issue?
Mr.. Hoover found that his reference
! to this problem was considered to be so
vague and ambiguous that he subse-
quently felt obliged to issue two state
mentS regarding Muscle Shoals and, If
anything at all happened, his position
became more involved than ever.
i have clearly defined my attitude.
It will be found In my speech of accept
ance.
SO far as Muscle Shoals is concerned.
! said In my speech at Denver that /
believe that the Government should
continue the full and complete develop
ment OF that plant retaining it under
Government ownership, operation and
control. While 1t Is true that 1t was
war measure and its purpose was to
! produce nitrates for explosives, the by
product of electrical energy can be used
to promote industry and give cheap
and reasonable rates for home, small
store and farm consumption.
1.-THE Republican candidate for Presi-
dent has promised to follow the Coolidge
policy. That policy is best set forth in
gress in 1925, when he said:
The problem of Muscle Shoals
seems to me to have assumed place
out of all proportion with Its real i'm
portance 1t probably does not repre-
sent In market value much more than
first-class battleship, yet 1t has been
discussed In Congress over period Of
years and for months at time
Let me add, and disposed Of by
Congress But the disposition, being
favorable to the rank and file of the
people, met with Executive veto. And
with that policy Mr.. Hoover says he
agrees.
Promises Completion.
"As against that. promise the COM
pletion Of the development under Gov
eminent ownership and control. which
would reclaim to the Government some
L fofr hn
penditure already made for Its improve
ment. When completed, the Nation will
be reimbursed, agriculture will receive
the benefit of cheap nitrate production
for fertilizer purposes and the surplus
water power can be distributed fairly
to the people of the 10 States which
plant could serve at rates which should
remain under the control of the Gov
eminent and be fair and equitable.
1.-THE people of the country have their
choice between my clear, clean-cut
policy and the clear, clean-cut, straight
forward policy of the Democratic plat
form, and the evasion. ducking and
lodging OF the Republican platform and
the Republican candidate
While have the Republican candi-
dates speech before me, let me nail
down hard and fast an old-time Re-
publican campaign trick. Mr.. Hoover
says
~ do not favor an increase in irnmi-
grafton
Let me say, most emphatically,
neither do and neither does the DEM
ocratic platform.
He says: At the same time we must
humanize the laws, but only within the
present quotas That is exactly what
I say, and it Is exactly what the Demo.
cratic platform says. What is the
necessity for the Republican candidate
to make that statement? NOBODY dis
agrees with him.
Reading further in the speech nj