The Washington times., 1928-09-14
P|NCHOT FLAYS
POWER TRUST
\
OUTRAGES

Clifford Pinchot. former governor
Of Pennsylvania. writing in the Octo-
Der issue of "Plain Talk" discusses
findings of a recent investigation
that reveal enormous expenditures
of money by the National Electric
Light Association for so-called eau
cational purposes.
Never in the history of America
SAYS MIR. Pinchot, has there Teen
uncovered so outrageous an attempt
TO undermine the soundness and in-
dependence of our educational institu-
tions. In attacking the integrity Of
our schools, the electric utility
monopoly attacks the very basis Of
self-government. AS an attempted
threat to democratic institutions, 1t
is no less disreputable than whole
,sale bribery or the stealing of votes.
Moreover. this electric effort to pre-
vent our people from forming sound
conclusions based upon unbiased
evidence, does not end with the
schools and colleges but extends into
every possible source OF publll
opinion"
Wholesale Debauchery
''The extent of this wholesale de-
bauchery is amazing even in this
chot article. Already it has been
proved that utility companies nave
contributed $1,110,000 in the cur
rent wear TO be expended for 'educa-
ton purposes and 100000 more was
raised for a special fund to beat
the Boulder Dam and Muscle Shoals
legislation. Since June 80, 1922, the
companies have collected 5000.
1888 for politics and propaganda.
I'm Pennsylvania. for example,
100 900 pamphlets were distributed
free to high school students in Il
single year and a 'catechism' IN
tended to poison the mind against
public ownership was sent TO more
than 40 per cent of all the high
school students in Connecticut.
THE insult interests, IN their
zeal for free education, sent out
hundreds of thousands of carefully
prepared pamphlets to the high
school and grade students of ILL
nois. Students in Ohio, Iowa. New
York and a dozen other states also
were given the same opportunity to
acquire sound views
81 I'm 1927, the records showed.
funds were contributed for 'edu> a.
tjonal research to the following
universities: Harvard, 1913 900; North
western, $32,50O; Johns Hopkins,
$4,000; Massachusetts Institute OK
Technology. $4,000. and University
of Michigan, $12 ,249.37.
$4,000 to WOmen's Clubs
"A contribution of $4,000 to the
General Federation of WomeE's
Clubs was made III 1926. In the
same year the Harvard Graduate
School was given $22 1886; in 1927,
$50 900 and in $i928, $4,000. North-
western University also got SIS 900
inl927 and $l2, 500 in 1928.
III this means anything" com.
ments Mr.. Pinchot, lit means that
the electric power and light com
panies OF the country claim and
exercise the right to tax us in rates
as much as they please for the
purpose Of collecting funds to inllu.
ence press and schools and tat
public service commissions sit by
and let them do it
And why are the electric utility
companies so grimly determined to
control public opinion?" inquiries
Pennsylvania former Cover nor
First, to prevent the building Oi
Boulder Dam, which would provide
. cheap electrical current at cost nd
thus show up the extOrtiOnate rates
of the electric mOnOpOlistS. The Los
Angeles municipal plant already il
furnishing electricity at 5 cents per
kilowatt hour The monOpoli7ts
naturally object to this demonstr2.
ton that their own rates are Toe
Ssecond, TO defeat the Government
production of electricity at MuSclC