Evening star., 1928-06-16
REVELATIONS MADE
IN UTILITIES PROBE
Testimony Shows Paid
Speakers Invaded PuIpits in
War on Federal Ownership.

Further revelations of the activities
of utility publicistS were promised by
Robert E. Healy, counsel for the Federal
Trade Commission. today, when the ex-
tended hearings that are being con-
Quoted by the commission are resumed
next Tuesday.
From Edward r. Mckay of Oklahoma
City, manager of the Oklahoma Plplic
Utility Information Bureau. the COM
mission yesterday elected information
that paid speakers of the bureau had
even invaded the pulpits of churches to
wage their fight against Government
ownership of utilities. Criticism of
Oklahoma editors of newspapers for
articles fayoring Government owner
ship also was made by Mckay, who was
the chief witness yesterday. 1t was not
known definitely today what course the
commissions inquiry would take when
1t reopens.
Letters and documents taken from
McKay's Office files and introduced into
the record caused the criticism of Okla
homa newspaper articles and of Okla
homa correspondents of Eastern news
papers for articles favoring Govern
ment ownership.
Origin Of Story Not Disclosed.
One communication was to Tams Blk
Wy CNAeOt va eil6 A1uShOBS6, Ohld., fIlOt-
nix. declaring that a Washington story
published in his newspaper advocating
Government ownership and construc-
ton of the Boulder Canyon Dam was
Government ownership propaganda"
The story was not credited to any
source, Mckay added, and there was
no authority for the information" The
correspondence in McKay's files also
showed criticism of the Ponca City
correspondent of the Christian Science
Monitor for an article praising Ponca
City's municipality owned power plant.
William L. Crittenden, former Has |
kell County Judge, who was employed |
by the bureau at a salary of $500 a |
year and expenses, toured the State and |
delivered thousands of speeches on pri- |
yate ownership of utilities before civic |
organizations, Mckay testified. After |
Crittenden had spoken on utility SUBJ
3ects in a town, Mckay said. he was |
invited frequently to speak from pulpits /
by ministers on Sundays.
Mckay added that Crittenden had |
made trip to the Holy Land and used
this topic for pulpit use, but did not !
elaborate whether the speaker used |
other themes for church addresses.
Insult Interests In Control.
Declaring that the insult and Byllesby
interests controlled about rs per cent
Of the Oklahoma electric utilities. Nc
Kay. former attorney of the Oklahoma
Corporation Commission, testified that
Dis information bureau had selfish"
purpose 4 in disseminating publicity
against Government ownership of util-
tiles and the Muscle Shoals and Boulder
Dam projects.
Schools, colleges and civic bodies as
well as newspapers were used as avenues
for its work, he said. He declared that
he hoped the information he had dis
semtnated had tended to influence the
public favorably toward public utilities.
He testified that thousands Of
speeches on utilities had been made in
Oklahoma during the past few years TO
hundreds Of thousands Of persons. He
about $4,000 a year during recent
years In carrying on its work.
The bureau also had close contact
with the colleges and universities Of
Oklahoma. he said A public utility
course was established
three years ago at the University Of
Oklahoma, he testified, adding that he
approached Dr.. Etratton D. Brooks, at
THAT time its president; and now head 4
Of Missouri University. with the idea
Dismissed by Gov. Walton.
He said Brooks, although he was
favorable TO the idea. was discharged by
the then Gov. Walton. But after w.
b. Bizzell became president. he added,
the course was iaaugurated.
Mckay also quoted from a letter /
written him In 1923 by the correspond /
ent Of the Associated Press at Oklahoma /
City. In this letter Mckay was told /
that the correspondent would be glad /
70 use any news stories he could fur /
ntsh IN mail service 70 Oklahoma /
members and also spontaneous news In /
the wire service, II such stories were /
legitimate news. /
Chief Publication Cited.
Mckay testified that the chief pub /
Mcations issued by his organization were /
q weekly news letter and judicial buI-A
ieftn, the former going TO 300 newspa-
pers but the latter going only to mem-
bers Of the Oklahoma Utilities ASSo-
ciatson. ~Our news service stands on
It's own merit, 100 per cent" he said.
The editors OF Oklahoma newspapersI
are perfectly capable Of distinguishing
between propaganda and news. / have
enough confidence In the integrity Of /
the newspaper profession TO leave it 10 |
the newspapernen 10 Use our matter or /
not. as they choose"