Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
UTILITY PAMPHLET
CAMPAIGN Barred
Witness Tells of Distribution
of $4,000 Leaflets in
Kansas Schools.

900 utility educational pamphlets, which
did not meet with the full approval OF
Dean p. r. Walker Of Kansas University
by tire information bureau Of the kansas
Public Service Co. was described by h
lee ,Tooes. director Of the bureau, To-Day
before the Federal Trade COMMISSION ;
DfiIitv Investigation. Jones also Is sec
retaYv If the Kansas section OF the
National Electric Light ASSOCIATION.
Jones testified that the pampnIels'
some of the material OF which was re-
ceived from the Illinois mIorna'ioil
committee, had been Endorsed by +: l..
Rinet secretary Of the Kansas State
Teachers Association. and jess w.
Milev. state superintendent OF pubic
instruction.
No Payment Made.
Jones said the pamphlets material
had been submitted to Dean Walker 70
On over the technical phases and that
Dean Walker replied that he could nos
PASS upon the booklet because It might
nlsce him in an embarrassing position
in view Of the fact that he was on the
state asvroll. He said Dean Walker had
written that he didn't think that the
electrical industry had contributed as
much to the world as 1t seemed 70
think
Jones testified that no payment had
been made 10 either Binet or Niley for
their Endorsement and that the ma
terial for the pamphlet had been SUD
rnitted to them before publication
Jones testified that he was member
Of the Topeka Press Club. and had
been secretary Of it for a short time.
that the bureau pays his Chamber OF
Commerce dues and that he calls on
many newspapers throughout the state,
as ne knows many news editors, being
3 former Kansas newspaper man MINI
self. He said that he had joined the
utilities in 1928. after having been sec
rotary Of the Hays. kanS., CHAMBER OF
Commerce.
Jones testified that he had discussed
news releases for the Utillgram. the
publication gotten out by his organi-
Tation. and distributed il 10 800 per-
sons. including editors. utility company
executives and 20 libraries.
Describes News Bulletin.
He said the news bulletin carried
articles unfavorable TO municipal owner
shin Of utilities and encouraged custo-
mer ownership Of utility securities. He
said the proposed construction OF
Boulder Canyon Dam by the Govern
rnent and Government operation OF
Muscle Shoals had been opposed IN
stories carried in the news bulletin.
He said that approximately 273 Kansas
newspapers used material disseminated
through the news bulletin and that the
last record he recalled on the amount
Of space consumed by utility publicity
was 5000 column inches in 1928.
He said prior to the distribution OF
the utility pamphlets in the schools
that his organization had voluntarily
undertaken a survey Of the Kansas text
books. but that no actual report had
been made.
sugar Coating" Methods.
documentary evidence as TO methods
used. including the sugar coating OF
spropaganda' with boaSting spirit 10
secure the support of Chambers OF
Commerce, in public relations work ny
the Arkansas Public Service 1nforma-
ton Bureau, was introduced yesterday
IN the investigation.
The Developments on sugar coating
methods came during the testimony OF
Earle W Hodges OF New YORK, former
director Of the Arkansas bureau. when
he was asked 10 identify copy OF the
transcript OF a speech he was alleged
t. have made before meeting OF the
National Electric Light Association in
New York IN 1928.
< Hodges now is connected with h l.
Doherty g. Co. OF New York and was
formerly Secretary Of State OF Ar
Kansas,
Hodges testified that he could not
remember attending the New YORK
meeting, but said that he might nave
made the speech. although he doubted
Il he had used the same expression
Of words.
In the transcript Hodges was quoted
As saving IF We do have any pTopa-
sanda land I don't like that word al
/ al for il Is one Of the Kaiseris fayoritesl
we 50 conceal or sugar coat that pro-
paganda with boaSsing that 1t is gen
erously entered into an got back OF by
ali OF the Chambers OF Commerce.
Civic Clubs. mems and women'S organi-
Zattong over the State"
Carl Jackson Of Washington, general
counsel for the National Electric Light
Association. charged Robert K. Healy.
counsel for the commission. with unfair
ness while Healy vas questioning Hodg-
e. The commission counsel had asked
the witness 10 identify memorandum
en- the New York speech when Jack
con interposed. saying that Healy was
attempting 70 put matter into the
I record which did not come under the
terms OF the Walsh resolution, adopted
( By the Senate which authorized the In
/ Yestigation
Healy retoEted that Jackson was con-
fused sn6 then presented the transcript
reporting the speech Of Hodges. Jack
. sons objection was oTerruled.
Tells Of Dinner.
Hodges testified that he was well ac
euainted with the ministers Of Arkansas
and told o. a dinner he gave a number
q them In 1924. In this connection a
letter from J. 3. Sheridan, secretary Of
the Missouri committee on public util-
fly information, was introduced. Eheri-
dan had written Hodges that your con-
tact With clergymen seems 10 me 10 be
especially valuable"
Asked by HeaIy II the contacts he es-
t2blishe6 through entertainment were
not for the benefit Of the utility indus
try, Hodges answered that since he had
been connected with the utilities he had
tried 10 benefit their public relations
He said that II Mr. Healy viii come
down his way. If you permit, well en-
terrain you"
Healy retorted You've already en-
tertained me beyond my fondest expec-
tAtsonx"
Commissioner Edgar A. McCuiloch
presiding at the hearings and himself
formerly a member Of the Arkansas SD
prefne Court remarked that behind the
shield Of Hospitality the utility men
seemed 10 carry or their public rela-
tons work.