Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
By the Associated Press.

DENVER, Colo, September 22.-
Again training his guns on Herbert
Hoover as he discussed water power In
a campaign speech here tonight, Gov.
Smith declared that the benefit of the
development of power sites should &C
crue to the people themselves and that
we should not permit them to fall into
private hands for private development,
which means private gain at the ex-
pense of all the users of The energy"
The Democratic nominee, in en- ad-
dress prepared for delivery in the coli
scum where Bryan 20 years ago vas
nominated for President for the third
time, insisted that the Republican plat
form declaration on water power was
unsatisfactory, and asserted that the
acceptance speech of his opponent did
not contain "one single word on the
question of water power development"
and that Mr.. Hoover failed in his Los
Angeles speech to make his stand clear
Raps Coolidge Veto.
. /
Coolidge for vetoing the Muscle Shoals
bill without an explanation of its re-
lection, and for making the declaration
In a message to Congress that the
Muscle Shoals question seemed to have
assumed a place out of all proportion
with its real importance"
The New York governors prepared
speech said that "inaction on the part
of the Federal Government, the strange
silence Of the candidate and the mean
inoless plank of the Republican plat
form indicate, to say the least, a SYM
pathy with the widespread propaganda
against public ownership spread
throughout the country by an organlza-
ton known as the joint committee CT
the National Electric Associations"
"The Federal Trade Commission, lr'
its investigation of public utility corpora
tions," the Democratic nominee asserted,
has developed some facts which ndl-
cate that Mr.. Hoover knew OF the eX-
istence of this power lobby INTENDED 10
influence congressional action and legls-
lation."
Linked to Lobby.
Mr.. Smith said that "the lobby's eX-
ecutive director, Judge Davis former
Iv an Assistant Secretary of Commerce
under Mr.. Hoover; that Paul Clapp
once a secretary to Mr.. Hoover, wa
named secretary of the joint comn1iC'
tee and is the executive director Oh IIle
National Electric Light Assoclatlon
which. he explained, is one of the three
prolIps making up the joint committee
and that former Senator Lenroot OF
Wisconsin, who, he said, was retained
fbv the Joint committee as counsel Cc
oppose" the Walsh resolution for al
Investigation of public utilities oper.
ations, was also "Mr. Hoover's counSeI
at the Kansas City convention IN Vne
contest over Southern delegates.
Gov. Smith also laid down barrag(
on Rov 0. West, present Secretary OF
the Interior, and H. Edmund Macholo
new chairman of the New York State
Republican committee.
7 'West," he said, "for almost quar-
ter of century had been closely ldentl
fled with important power companies
and the nominee asked:
''Is it not fair argument to assume
that such an appointment indicates
spirit of unfriendliness, if not hostility
on the part of the Republican part.
in the Nation to those who stand 10
public ownership and control OF Tn
,God-given resources of the Natlon|"
Opponent of Public.
AS for Machold, the nominee referre'
10 him as 1.-The most bitter opponent
Dublic ownership and control OF water
mower" in New York State. He SAT-
Machold used all his influence ant
strength in the Legislature to oppoS
the adoption of a constructive, forward
looking program of State ownership am
control. and until the very day he wa
selected State chairman was affiliate
with many of the largest private water
power companies in the State"
Turning 10 the Boulder Canyon Dal
problem. IN which Colorado and tn
other six States in the Colorado Rave
basin are directly interested, Go
Smith called for immediate action
With regard to Muscle Shoals he IT
iterated a belief that the Governmer
should continue "the full and complet
operation" of the plant in Alabam
"retaining it under Government owner
6hpi and control.
As for Boulder Dam, the nomin,
said that "the site of the dam and IL
machinery generating this water pow
must be preserved in public ownership
Sees Aid for Farmer.
The Democratic nominee said th
development of the Muscle Shoals plal
should be completed so that the N;
! ton may be reimbursed agriculture r,
ceive the benefits Of cheap nitrate prt
duction for fertilizer purposes, and tn
surplus power distributed fairly to Il
people of the ten States which tn
plant should serve at rates whiC
should remain under the control of Il
Government"
Outlining his general policy wit
regard 10 water power resources, Go
Smith expressed the view that "whe
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