davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-10-22

ganizing farmers who are asking foi
rural electrification, and they have
submitted many applications fol
loans. Electric co-operatives which
have been operating fer years almost
unknown to the industry at large are
preparing to expand their activities
Special Units Created.
Certain national farmers associa.
tions-the American Farm Bureau
Federation and the National Grange
among others-have created special
. sections and committees to aid the
farmer in procuring electric service
Part Of the activity of these national
associations is being carried on in
conjunction with State Departments
of agriculture. State agricultural col
leges are continuing and in some
cases expanding their activities re-
lating to rural electrification.
Despite the inertia which has beset
the rural electrification situation, r
E. A. has already docketed potential
projects from 46 States. While some
Of these may not now, or even after
amendment, satisfy the several re-
quirements laid down by the Presi-
dent, many of them undoubtedly will
And where q project proves too weak
there Is always the possibility of COM
bining 1t with another and stronger
one.
Many of the projects which were SUBJ
mitted early have met our engineer
ing, legal and economic tests. Right
now, loan contracts are awaiting sig
nature on II rural Identification prof.
ects in seven different States. Action
on many more projects is rapidly ap-
preaching completion, and loan con-
tracts for them will probably be COM
pleted soon.
The Rural Identification Admins
tration itself is a small, intimate group
OF specialists and near-specialists
There are only about 200 names on
our pay roll. We depend very largely
on the initiative of farm leaders to
organize projects, to make vocal the
demand Of farmers in their communi-
ties for electricity. We are all To-
Gated here in Washington, and in our
few short months of life we have kept
pretty busy.
Rural Rates Reduced.
In the meantime. in response to the
stimulus given by the Government
program, thousands of miles of rural
lines are being built throughout the
country with private financing. Power
companies have reduced their rural
rates and liberalized their rural ex-
tension terms. and utility commissions
have revised their regulations to con-
form with the new spirit evident
everywhere.
This burst of speed in rural line con-
Struction Is highly gratifying in itself.
and especially so when compared with
the activity in this field prior to 1895.
The number of new rural customers
to be added in the State of New York
alone as a result of the program re-
Gently announced by private utilities
in that State may easily exceed the
increase for the entire country in the
year 1894.
When it is considered that in spite
Of the fact that the most profitable
customers have already been connect
ed by utility companies, the number
OF new lines constructed in 1885 will.
in all probability. exceed by several
times the construction of 1884. and
that definite evidence points to 1886
as the year in which rural line con-
struction will exceed even the most
prosperous years of the industry, the
Federal Government may be confident
Evening star., 1935-10-22

program. Private utilities now oner.
ating in rural territories should as a
rule at least double the number of
rural customers that serve and more
than double the amount of current
sold. Let me repeat that and en-.
phasize it: The total kilowatt-
OF electricity consumed in the homes
and on the farms Of the United
States can and will be doubled in the
next few years.
Naturally, even the attainment q,
that quota will be only the first
step In Our long-range plan. But
right now we are concerned with a
condition that amounts to an emer.
gency. We have two things to do.
as I see it. We have to prepare a
sound, forward-looking program lead
ing ultimately to very general rural
electriflcation and we have to get
that program started and a lot OF
progress made in the months and
years just ahead.
Benefits to Country.
The benefits to the country AZ a
whole from the acceleration OF this
program are, first, the direct en-
ployment in the construction of lines
Of thousands Of men now on relief
rolls. and, second, the stimulation OF
the copper, glass and lumber industry
and electrical equipment fabricators
with resulting increases in employ
nent, pay rolls and profits.
Additional benfts will arise from
the stimulation given industrial re-
covery by the increased demand for
electrical appliances and plumbing
equipment which rural electrification
makes it possible for the farmer to
use.
1t is impossible to overestimate the
true significance Of rural electrifica-
lion in the stabilization of farm life
and the reconstruction of agriculture.
The use Of electricity for the pump
ing OF irrigation water and its re-
lation to soil erosion make rural cleo
trlflcation an indispensable factor in
the new era Of agriculture. Electricity
will remove the drudgery from farm
life, and the cultural benefits that
arise from its abundant use will lift
the plane of the farmers standard
OF living. This will help to stabilize
our rural population and keep our
best young people on the farm.
The program under way promises
results satisfactory, not only to the
Federal Government and to farm
communities, but to the power COM
panies as well. The r. E A. has
diligently cultivated friendly rural
organizations, equipment manufac-
turers, co-operatives, municipalities,
privately owned utilities-and it is to
the united exertions of these groups
that credit will be due for the success
Of its program.
In this period of stress and shift
ing standards in American life one
master problem stands out. This is
rural rehabilitation. But of course
the problem can be made to sound
more simple than it really is. In
any plan for rehabilitating American
agriculture one must include the SAL
vation of our soils from erosion. the
building up of farm incomes and a
general improvement in the levels of
living to the end that the gap which
nsw exists between urban and coun-
try life may be closed. And in any
such planning for the economic and
cultural betterment Of life in rural
America, electriflcation must play an
increasingly important part.
Evening star., 1935-10-22

rural electricfication authorities and
the State departments of agriculture,
have been consulted. Splendid CO.
operation has developed between
r. E. A. and national farmers asso-
Citations, such as the American Farm
Bureau Federation, the National
Grange, and the Farmers Union.
Almost daily we are receiving reports
from private companies containing
their 1935-36 line construction pro-
grams accompanied In some instances
by revised rate schedules and rules
for extending lines.
InitiatOry Work Necessary.
The lethargy in which rural elec-
IRRIGATION has rested up to the pres
ent makes it necessary for r. E. A.
to undertake extensive initiatory work
before the rural electrification pro-
gram can attain its fullest develop
ment.
To that end, we have prepared and
distributed small printed pamphlets
announcing and explaining the Gov
ernment rural electrification program.
We are distributing q monthly bulle-
tin, to serve as a central clearing
house for information on all rural
electrification activities. Federal,
State and private. Through the
medium Of that bulletin and other
wise, we are collecting statistics of
rural electrifcation and effecting an
interchange Of plans, progress and
technical developments. There has
been an extreme derth Of accurate
statistical information on rural elec-
trification. For example. even now
we have no way of telling precisely
how many miles of rural lines there
are in this country, and even as to
the number OF farms receiving elec-
trio service there is marked differ
ence in the statistics issued by rec
ognized authorities.
This information service has pro-
gressed quietly, without any fanfare
of trumpets nor beating Of drums.
1t has consisted largely of keeping
those who are, or who may become
leaders and active participants in our
program currently informed of our
activities. and seeing that pertinent
information from one part OF the
country Is called to the attention Of
interested persons in other sections.
Direct Contacts Needed.
To be effective, an information serv-
Ice must be supplemented by more
direct contacts. Hearty cooperation
has been assured by the private util-
ity industry. The cooperative move
ment, already we'll established as an
aid to the farmer in both produc-
ton and consumption, Is anxious to
play a significant part in the r. e. A.
program and has requested contacts
by r. E. A. representatives. To these,
as to all other enterprises participat-
ing, We make available, In an ad-
visory capacity, our legal and en-
gineering services.
r E. A engineers have drawn up
standard specifications for a type
of line construction most suitable TO
rural needs. These standards are
now in the hands Of national authori-
ties in electrical engineering for final
checking. The effect Of such serv-
ice is to reduce costs to a minimum
consistent with satisfactory opera
ton; this IN turn means a lower
cost of electricity to the consumer
Model bylaws and standard forms
for incorporation suitable for electric
co-operatiyes have been prepared.
Co.operatives in many areas have
already done q thorough job Of or
Evening star., 1935-10-22

chiSes as widely as possible while ex-
tending their services only to those
areas which were most profitable,
the outlook for rural electriflcation
was indeed unpromising.
Because of these and other ad-
verse conditions, utility construction
shrank from approximately 1920, ,000,-
900 in 1880 to $1O0,OO0,OO0 in 1884
This threw out of employment and
on to the relief rolls vast reservoir
Of skilled labor which was anxious to
return to its old tasks. Those manu-
featuring industries whose products
are required for rural line extensions
were, for the most part, working only
part time.
Running Water Scarce.
You can well imagine that such
conditions were of particular interest
to an administration pledged to i'm
prove the living conditions Of our
rural areas and interested in extend.
ing to the farmer as many as possible
VA SAAV hSAiCAbC SA VI bdl1 ll4C. OllC
of the many modern conveniences
which We take for granted in the
city-without which, indeed, life in
our cities would be impossible-is
running water. Yet We found the
percentage Of farmhouses with run
ming water was almost identical with
the ratio having electricity. That is
not coincidence, for electric power
is the most satisfactory method of
providing running water on the farm.
About so per cent of our farms
have automobiles, and over a third
of them have telephones. In every
area where electricity has been made
available to them, the farmers have
demonstrated not only ability out
ardent willingness to utilize it, 1t is
certainy not fact that only one
farmer in ten wants electric power.
Such, then were the conditions exist
Evening star., 1935-10-22

ing when the Government launched
its rural electrification program.
The Congress took the first step in
this program when 1t earmarked
$100,000,000 Of the work-relief funds
to be used in increasing the degree of
rural electrification in this country.
President Roosevelt last May created
the Rural Electrification Administra-
tion to put that money to work and to
supervise program to bring about
greater utilization of electric energy
In rural areas.
Loans Made at 3 Per Cent.
r. z. A. is trying to bring electric
power to the greatest possible number
of farms in the shortest possible time
1t is strongly urging that in the con-
struction of rural lines entire areas
be served, thus taking "the SKINNED
milk with the -cream"-a policy that
many utilities have, in the past, been
reluctant to follow.
Loans at an interest rate of 3 per
cent to be amortized over a period of
20 years are to be made to the public
as well as private bodies on approved
self f-liquidating projects. No grants
will be given.
Normally the construction of rs or
more miles Of rural lines where GUS
toners average three or more to a
mile will be considered a project.
Construction cost would be approxi-
mately $1,000 per mile, and there
should be a prospect of building up
consumption Of current to exceed an
average of 100 kilowatt hours monthly
per customer.
In order to achieve these objectives,
new and inexpensive standards of
rural line construction, lower rates
and new type of service contract.
free from the burdensome conditions
heretofore prevailing, must be estab-
lished. Rural lines must be tailored"
to the farmers needs and the use OF
expensive urban construction elm
mated. In conjunction with the ap-
proval of projects, r. E. A. Is insisting
that rate schedules be adopted which
will encourage the generous use of
electricity. A special effort is being
directed toward breaking down anti
quated systems of high minimum
monthly charges and of requiring con-
sumer cash contributions before lines
are extended.
r. e. A. to Fix Wages.
At least rs per cent of the money
lent is to be expended for labor under
each particular project carried on by
a public body. and preference in the
employment Of workers will be given
to persons from public relief rolls.
Wages will be determined by r. E. A.,
but in accordance with local wage
conditions.
r. E. A. has sought to find the
best method by which all interested
agencies might cooperate in the rural
electrification program. In this effort
agencies of all types have been con-
suited. At the outset r. e. A. called
conferences Of the private utilities,
the municipal utilities and co-operat-
ives. These took the form of round
table discussions. in which r. E. A.
participated. There was a mutual
exchange of points OF view, resulting
In a much more efficient approach to
the problem on the part of all.
Liaison has been established with
all Government departments and
agencies which have an interest in
the farmers welfare or the electric
industry. State agencies, such as the
public service commissions, State
Evening star., 1935-10-22
COOKE OUTLINES
BENEF|TS0F R. E.A
Administrator Sees Bright
Future for Rural EIec-
trification Plans.

Describing rural electrification as
q potent influence in the entire pic
ture of industrial stimulation and
rural rehabilitation, Morris L. Cooke,
head Of the Rural Identification Ad-
ministration, last night predicted that
1886 will be year in which rural
line electrification will exceed even
the most prosperous years of the
industry"
Mr.. Cooke spoke last night on the
National Radio Forum, sponsored by
The Evening Star and broadcast over
q National Broadcasting Co. net
work.
. Administration Staff Small.
The administration itself. Mr.. Cooke
explained, Is comparatively small
unit with fewer than 200 names on
its pay roll. depending largely on
the initiative Of farm groups to spread
the activities of the program. To
this end, he said, "R. E. A. is trying
to bring electric power to the great
est possible number of farms. 1t is
strongly urging that in the construc-
tion of rural lines entire areas be
served, thus taking the SKINNED milk
with the cream-a policy that many
utilities have. in the past, been re-
luctant to follow"
Potential projects in 40 States are
now docketed with the administra-
ton, he said, and right now, loan
contracts are awaiting signature on
IL rural electri1cation projects in
seven different States"
The whole program, the adminis-
traitor continued. is aimed at aban-
doning policies and practices which
are outworn and substituting plans
for utilization Of improved rate sys-
TENS, modern appliances and most
ef1cient principles.
Text of Address.
The text of Mr. Cookies address
follows:
In order that you may have a
better understanding of the aims
and objectives Of the Government
rural electrification program, let me
explain why 1t appeared necessary to
take some action to change the rate
OF progress Of rural electriflcation in
this country.
About half century ago the
French novelist Emile Zola wrote:
THE day will come when electricity
will be for everyone as the waters Of
the rivers and the wind of heaven.
1t should not merely be supplied. but
lavished, that men may use it at their
will as the air they breathe"
And the late Charles P Steinmetz,
one of our greatest authorities On
electricity, foretold the time when
electricity will be so plentiful that.
for retail use, it would not pay to
meter it.
In many of our industries, and in
many modern city homes, the day
foretold by zola seems to be ap-
preaching. In some foreign countries
Evening star., 1935-10-22

oNes. iassg1 4 Nx2s 1saha6 =
Evening star., 1935-10-22
but, after all is said and
done, it's the cigarette it.
self that counts
%. the question is;
does it suit you?


eDss. rssu 4 Hn 1assaA
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28
FisherW ants
Open Shop
Continued from, Page y


March decision of Roosevelt and
place their faith in the employer
controlled Auto Labor Board, warn
ing them that continued labor diff
ficulties would cause the company
to withdraw work from Cleveland
plant.
The company's statement, while
fully anticipated by the majority of
the workers, who knew that their
only hope lies in strong organiza-
ton and strike preparation, blasted
the illusions of those who thought
that heir demands could be won by
peaceful negotiations.
The union is holding three meet
ings Wednesday afternoon to de-
termine its further action.
Commenting on the company's
statement the Communist Party
called on the workers to intensity
the building of the union and pre-
pare to strike for their demands
The uncompromising attitude of the
company clearly shows that nothing
could be gained without militant
action, the G. P. declares.
Protracted negotiations as advo-
Gated by the A. F. of L. top official
dom, would result in defeat. The
Communist Party calls on all work
ers and local officials of the union
to intensity their organization anc
begin immediate preparations fol
militant action to win their de-
mands in the present production
season.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28
Relief Strike
Is Ended

FORT SMITH, Ark, Feb. 27-
The strike of the four thousand re-
lief strikers who were fighting
against fifty per cent relief cut
ended when the workers voted to
go back to work in order to better
organize their ranks for a future
struggle.
The relief workers strike started
three weeks ago in the southern
part of the county when the unem-
ployed miners walked out in protest
against wage cut from thirty to
fifteen and twenty cents an hour
and the setting of a monthly re-
lief budget at fifteen dollars. They
demanded forty cents an hour with
a thirty hour week.
Workers who were organized into
the Workmens Union of the World
and the Veterans of Industry of
America have become disguised
with their leaders" who, instead
of taking part and leading the
struggle, spent their time in con-
ference with the Chamber of Com
merce in an effort to settle the
strife" These workers have taken
steps to affiliate with the National
Unemployment Councils and have
condemned the leaders Of the Fort
Smith Trades and Labor Council
who refused them the use of the
Labor Temple for meetings.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28

Longs and La Follettes. Recent ex-
periences take the very foundation
from under the non-partisan policy
of the trade union bureaucrats. The
still more open attack of the Roose-
welt administration gainst the
workers, so that there is even rift
between it and the A. F. of L. Of
ficials, will also hasten the indie
pendence of the workers from the
capitalist parties.
In addition to the experience of
the workers during the past decade,
the Communist Party and rank and
file movement in the unions have
become much stronger. These are
the main forces that will generate
the trend toward a Labor Party.
In 1923-24 the Communist Party
was still young, and in the main
isolated. The left wing in the
unions was in it's infancy. A CAM
paign by the A. F. of L. at that time
to expel militants did not meet with
much resistance. Today the mill
tants take lead in some of the
outstanding strikes in the country.
The rank and file challenges the
hureaucrats in some of the largest
unions in the heavy industry, as in
steel. the expulsion campaign in
all unions initiated by Green has
thus far fallen flat.
Support for Workers Bill
An indication of the forces that
the militants can muster in the
present situation is in the support
collected behind the Workers I'm
employment and Social Insurance
Bill III. r. 2827) and the huge
Washington Congress which mobil-
lied to push it's adoption. The thou
sands of A. F. of l.. locals which
endorsed the bill and the hundreds
of locals which were represented at
the congress defied the orders of the
A. F. of L, executives.
The Central Committee of the
Communist Party, after pointing out
the forces which seek to divert the
sentiment for independent political
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28
BY GEORGE MORRIS

action into channels that will sub
ordinate it to capital, at the same
time warns against attempts to
place the movement for a Labor
Party behind program that sets
out to abolish the capitalist system.
Only the Communist Party stands
for the latter. Such a policy would
narrow down the support for the
Labor Party In order that the La
Dor Party should really succeed in
quickly leading the masses away
from the capitalist parties, it must
be built around a program of i'm
mediate needs only, such as will
make the broadcast mass appeal.
Not "COver" for Communists
The Central Committee also warns
against hiding the Communist Party
or against the idea that a labor
Party is only "cover" for the Com
munist Party. The Communist
Party, in addition to maintaining It's
independent existence, will be the
most dynamic force to build the La
Dor Party. Tt will come out boldly
with its program that only the re-
placement of the present order by
a Soviet America can be funda-
mental solution for the workers and
other exploited people. The work
of building Labor Party likewise
gives the Communist Party q fine
opportunity to win the most ad-
vanced Of the class-conscious work.
ers into its own ranks
If we fail to make clear the diff
ference between the Labor Party
and the Communist Party, and the
latter's role, it would be just like
failing to warn against "red
scare" in a strike, or union election.
The capitalist politicians, and the
top labor leaders, as LaFollette and
Gompers did in 1924 could use the
"red scare as an effective trick to
disrupt the move for a real Labor
Party at most decisive moment.
We must in advance explain to the
workers in the simplest terms that
every step forward for the workers
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28

is in line with the policy of the
Communist Party, and that we do
not seek to dominate the Labor
Party movement but insure that it
will follow on the basis of an in
dependent class policy.
Party Based in Union
From our analysis it should be
clear that the possibility of genu-
inc Labor Party rests primarily
upon the extension of the Rank and
File movement in the trade unions,
especially in the A. F. of L. This is
repeated in the resolution a num-
Der of times. The slogan for a
Labor Party must now be made one
of the outstanding points in the
program of the rank and file in
the unions. To the degree that the
rank and file wins control in the
unions, to that degree will a solid
foundation be built for a real Labor
Party. We will find that most of
the top union officials will resist
the movement for Labor Party, as
it hits at their scheme for auction
ing off the votes of the workers.
The only Labor Party they would
support is one that would act as an
appendage of the employers and a
new weapon against the militant
workers.
Socialists and Labor Party
The furthest that the top bureau
Gratis would go toward a Labor
Party will be through joint action
between the Socialist Party and its
supporting union officials, espe-
cially in the garment unions. Com
munists and militant workers need
hardly be told that they would not
be permitted to take part in such a
party. Such a Labor Party" would
be fundamentally controlled from
the top.
From this it does not follow that
it is impossible to unite with the
Socialists on the Labor Party issue.
The Socialist Party is not unit.