The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1942-12-10
Roger Swings Club
at Critics of PUD
Condemnation

CONDEMNATION
Conks noggins right
and left in answer to !
recent editorials
In your editorials of November IL
and rs you questioned the patriotism
of R. r. Woods and myself by in
ferring we are opposed to the life
and death war effort, do not be-
lieve in popular government, COM
pare our effort to an unprovoked
Shutdown strike in munitions fac.
tory, and infer we do not deserve
the respect of our fellow citizens
unless we defer for the duration
the condemnation of the Pacific
Power and Light Company. You
made other remarks along the same
line that space will not permit me
to answer.
You state the formation of public
power districts is boosted with the
loud support of the Communist
party and a PUD district is State
Socialism.
You have not even tried to rea-
son in this matter but appeal to
the prejudices of the people.
Since we started condemnation
proceedings I have not heard one
word of criticism except from people
who do not believe in public power.
Paul B. Mckee, the president of
the PIP. l.. Co., in a letter to his
stockholders on November, q, 1912,
states in regard to the condemna-
| ton of the Power Co. by Klickitat
PUD, started on October z, 1912, the
best interest of the public and all
concerned would be served by defer
ing the action for the duration.
The Klickitat PUD commissioners
voted unanimously for condemna-
ton and two of the commissioner
were reelected on this issue.
The local manager of the PP.&L.
CO. in this district solicited the
business men in Prosser for meet
ing for the purpose of protesting
against the present condemnation
and less than a dozen attended.
The power companies have not
stopped their fight against public
power because of the war but have
Increased their efforts in trying to
elect PUD commissioners who are
opposed to public power. They have
greater Hobbies than ever before.
The private power group did not
and never will tell us when the time
is right to condemn them so why
should we accept their advice as
today b. ..... "a .
| They called Bonneville and Grand
Coulee dams white elephants and
stated Bonneville power could moi
be used in fifty years. ~
1t would take many more of the
lives of our boys If we did not
have this large amount OF public
power today making munitions OF
war.
| Our Commander in Chief in q
letter to Senator Bone, that wa
made public, states he favors the
acpuision of Northwest private
power facilities to develop power
for war industries.
The national grange in session
last November passed a resolution
lfavoring the acquision of Northwes
private power facilities to. develop
power for war industries. +
/ The state oranges of Oregon ano
| Washington favored similar action
| Benton County Irrigation District
in a large pumping section coule
wait no longer for cheaper rate!
so the proposed immediate condem.
nation. Our suit prevents needles:
duplication of law suits.
The time limit for our legal allo.
lcation of power from Bonneville wa!
January 1st, 1941. But the Bon.
neville Act specifically states tina
| a preference be given public bodie;
as long as there is power available
We are fast approaching the time
when the power will all be in us'
so it is an emergency for us u
condemn at this time.
| We worked for eight years tryin.
to follow the mandate of the peopl.
and used every other way to TT.
to acquire these properties but tn
power companies were no more will
ing to have this done in peac
times than they are in war.
Il A telegram was sent to our Con
gresham trying to get him t
stop our condemnation but in hi
negative answer he stated the poWe
companies are now. using the wa
| as cover for their Vaccinations