The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-06-02

sachusetts in the Northeast. and II
linois, Iowa and the whole group of
so-called Mormon states-Utah,
Idaho, Nevada-in the mountain re-
gion. The Democratic end of the
balance of power. of course, was
the solid South.
The disease which has hit the
| Republicans of the Northeast. and
most of the other one-time Repub-
lican states as well, is loss of lead
ership.
For years J. Henry Roraback was
the dictator of Connecticut. He was
the Republican boss, national COM
mitteeman, and what hays you. No
one thought of doing anything in
the Republican party without con-
sulting Henry There we're little
centers of dissent, notably in New
Haven, where the rebels even dared
to select their own congressman.
But Roraback's ability'began to slip,
and, so great had been the fear of
him, that despite this slipping, OBJ
vious to all who knew him, no one
dared to take the initiative toward
perfecting new organization.
Made 1t Tougher
To make the problem tougher for
aspiring Republicans, it so hap
pened that even before Roraback' S
slipping had become apparent, Con-
necticut elected a Democratic gov
ernor who was a great personal
friend of Roraback's. Roraback
praised him publicly. So as that
| once great political MIND weakened
the Democrats were developing pat
renage as we'll as organization.
Finally Roraback died, but he did
not leave strong successor. There
had been no regent during the Pc
Rod of disintegration New would
be leaders, so to speak, started from
scratch, with more interest in their
personal advancement than in build
ing up strong organization.
At the present moment there are
three distinct factions aspiring to
state control of the G. O. P, and any
number of little groups not saHied
with the Big Three. No one7of the
Big Three would be pleased at the
success, even though it meant the
election of Republicans in place of
Democrats, by any of the other
forces.
Were They Surprised?
Utility officials and army officers
alike were flabbergasted by reports
of the Presidents conference with
Assistant Secretary of War Louis
Johnson and Power Commissioner
Basil Manly as to proposed new
survey of the national power situa-
ton, from the standpoint of national
defense.
The President said this matter
had never been studied from that
angle, and that it is not so much
a question of additional power as it
is tying in existing power lines that
are not connected He said il any
thing should happen the District of
Columbia could not borrow power
from Baltimore or vice versa. In
the city of New York, he said, there
is no physical connection between
one side of the Hudson and the
other
Of course the President was SIM
ply Illustrating to the newspaper
men the kind of information he
wanted mapped out. Actually there
is power line between Baltimore
and Washington intended for the
very purpose Of permitting one city
to serve the other in the event of
some emergency.
Actually also New York city is
protected against failure of its nor
NAL supply There is a connection,
made for that. purpose, with the
power lines of the Niagara and
Hudson company. incidentally the
President was enormously interest
ed, about two years ago, when some
of the power companies cut their
connections at certain state bor-
ders, notably the New York Connec-
ticut border, in the hope of escaping
federal regulation and the death SEN
tence Of the public utility holding
company act.
Here's Amusement
But this is not the amazing part
of the story. What really sur
prised the army and the utility
men was that there is marvelously
accurate survey of the whole situa-
ton right in the government pos
session. It was made by the army
engineers.
Unfortunately, this report is con-
fidential. In fact, it is regarded by
the army as very important part
of its war plans, and is kept on
tap with other plans for industrial
mobilization.
Why Assistant Secretary Johnson
did not mention this to the cop.
mander in chief of the army, the
President, when they were talking
about this survey, and emphasiz-
ing its national defense aspects, is
rather a mystery to some, but is
explained, with political logic, by