The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-01-19
TRUST
STRUCK At
FICTION
BY M. l.. RAMSAY
Universal service

vow ~
Power trust leaders sought toI
erase the unsavory character OF
the ruthless and monopolistic pub
lie utility baron even from the
pages Of popular fiction. Il was
disclosed in evidence before the Fed.
eral Trade Commission yesterday,
Their ire was aroused by 3 novel
entitled "Ail-Wool Morrison, BY
Holman Day, which was serialized
In the Saturday Evening Post and
later published IN book form.
Fictitious Magnate
at had a fictitious water power
magnate who was trying to get
control OF all the water power IN
Maine" George r.. Oxley, publicity
director or the National Electric
Light Association. told the commits
Moa Of the Maine hydro-electrlcH
Developments are Under the banner
OF Samuel Insult, OF Chicago.
The novel epresented an unfair
picture Cf the industry from our
viewpoint, Oxley testified. NJ. H
Aylesworth, then managing director
oe the Light Association. reported
the matter to It's executive commit.
tee. Minutes Of the ineeting. record
ing 4 program to have articles fav.'
orable to existing electric rates and
TO State regulation pu i.sfed in pop
uiar magazines, read:
aHe (Aylesworth) added that the
association has registered a protest
with the Saturday Evening Post for
statement regarding utilities which
appeared in story "All Wool
Morrison" and tina. an endeavor will
be made to keep such statements
out Of popular fiction
Admits Protest
oxIey admitted that such 4 pro-
test was lodged. There was no tes-
tlncny as 10 Its results. He dis.
claimed knowledge OF any steps actu.
ely taken 10 keep such material out
Of circulation generally.
Protests by light association Of
ficials were followed by deIetion
OF q paragraph from the introduce
ton to Confines OF puzzle utility
economies" M. q. Glaeser, its
author. testified. Glaeser ID pro-
fessor Of economies at the uni
versity Of Wisconsin,
The paragraph, written by Pro
lessor Richard Z. Ely as editor of
textbook series. world have revealed
that the utilities maintained a com
mittee to promote production Of
sound" texts on economics. The
hook was published before this fact
was disclosed In the commissions
investigation
Text Criticised
.GIaeser testified that several utili-
" men criticised his text while il
was in preparation and after it
was in proof. He made changes
only where he judged their sug.
gestions valid. he said. Proposals
that he accepted utility executive
or professor Ely as collaboration
were dropped because he rejected
them, he added.
Glaeser declared professor Ely,
who is director of the institute for
research in land economies and
public utilities at Northwestern Uni
versity. wanted To have special
edition Of the text published Tor
sale to the light association. with
the institute sharing the profits.
Glaeser objected "strenuously." be
said. and this was not done.
He declined to so with the In
stitute when. it was moved from
Wisconsin to Northwestern in 1925
due to fear that its work might
be unduIy influenced hy private
utility companies according to
his testimony. The institute re-
ceives $25 200 year for research
from the light association.
Turns to Maryland
The light association is paving
$I2,500 a year. and local utilities
an equal sum. for support Of the
'.nationaI rural electric project
an experimental farm electrifica-
ton project conducted In co-operas
ton with the University cf Mary.
land. Paul S. Clapp light associa.
ton managing director. testified. ]