Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-01-03

Apparently the approach failed u
work and the power commission re
jected a suggestion that the govern
ment join In seeking an early Sup
RENE Court contest over the iva
Frank McNinch, chairman Of the
Power Commission, said its era
had the support of the people, Cong
ress and the President and that alb
uses should be corrected. He point
ed out, as a clincher. that for Can
adam power public and private, "the
Canadian paid 2 Is cents" and "the
consumer in the United States 5h
cents.
Public sentiment against the ut
ility companies is widespread as a
result OF revelations before the Fed
eral Trade Commission and they are
distinctly on the defensive. Mr..
Roosevelt, it is pointed out, is driving
a wedge between the private power
interests by dividing the operating
utilities men and the holding COM
pany crowd. Operators feel that the
holding companies have taken ad-
vantage OF them, levying tribute dis
guised as management fees and
otherwise, besides conducting a de
fenseless propaganda policy that was
uncovered and d~iscredited to the
detriment of the legitimate operating
concerns. The Presidents strategy
is to convince them that If they
shake the holding company parasites
off their backs they can compete
with New Deal "yard-sticks."
Revision of American policies as q
neutral during war, with possible
limitation to four demands for free
dom OF the seas" and upon neutral
rights, Is t~oreshadowed by Secretary
HulPs statement that this country
will soon set forth a definition OF
neutrality and outline its probably
conduct in the event of war. Wider
powers for the President are to be
asked, 1t is believed, In order to
strengthen his hand in keeping the
United States out of war.
American entry into the World
Wal was made inevitable when this
nation insisted upon long-established
neutral rights to trade with all ia
tons In accordance with internation-
al law. Great Britain, through Ord
ers In Council, enforced restrictions
in the name of necessity and receiv-
ed severe and sternly worded notes
from Washington. Germany, violat-
ing Dur same rights, with disregard
Of human life, cited other violations
in justification. The general opin-
ion Is that nations in future, under
pressure OF what they consider 'nec-
will likewise violate the
freedom OF the SEAS" defined by
Senator Borah to give neutral ma
the same commercial rights as
peace, except when carrying NUM-
or violating an actual blockade.
Last week Secretary Hull, while
admitting that some expression OF
Is contemplated, refused to be j
specific. Everyone realizes the I'M
portance of any announcement of our
attitude and its effect upon world
and mature consideration
and much consultation will precede
any final policy.
P~ointedly, 1t is observed that not a
single neutral right asserted by this J
has been recognized official
by Great Britain, France, Italy or
Germany to any greater extent than
the World War. Moreover, 1t
has been realized In Europe that the
OF Nations, or a concert OF
powers, acting against an a ggressor
would be handicapped, II not
lhwarted, If the United States insist
ID upon full neutral rights. Just a
'ew weeks ago Stanley Baldwin,
leader, declared that the
British fleet would join no blockade
it knew the attitude Of the
States.