The Omaha guide., 1945-08-04
mvA WANTS ST 600, 900 Signature
REGIONAL COM
MITTEE FOR MVA

NH lee FOR MNA
Omaha, Nebr.-Final plans for a
100000 signature petition drive in
support of a Missouri Valley Author
ity will be mapped by the executive
body of the Regional Committee for
MVA in a meeting here August 8. i
The executive committee is ex-
pected to set campaign quotas for the
l0AliSSouri Valley states and for the
organizations supporting its program.
1t is calling upon these organizations
to furnish field representatives for the
mass petition drive An intensive cam
paign is planned, with the intention
OF securing the signatures Of 100000
Missouri Valley citizens prior to Con
gressional action this Fall on the
MVA bill sponsored by Sen. James E.
Murray of Montana and Rep. John J.
Cochran of Missouri.
Other matters which the executive
committee will consider include over
all policy in the movement for estab-
liShment of an MVA an dthe launch
ing of broad educational and fund
raising drives in conjunction with the
petition campaign.
The group, meeting upon the call
of Chairman Left Erickson of Hele-
ma, Mont, will also confirm the cleo
ton of Missouri, Wyoming and Min
nesota members, elect II members
at-large to complete the 25-man ex-
ecutive committee an dprovide for
the employment Of an executive sec
retary and other regional Office per
Sonnel.
The Regional Committee for MVA,
organized at a conference of $50 Mis-
souri, Valley citizens in Omaha July
6 and 7, has strong backing from all
CIO and AFL affiliateS in the region,
the National Farmers Union and state
! Farmers Unions, other farm groups
and leaders, state rural electrifcation
coop associations, leaders of wom-
ems an dveteranS organizations and
prominent business and professional
REGIONAL COMMIT
TEE FOR MVA
st. Louis, Mo.-Opening the Re-
gional Committee for MVA's mas.
petition drive to secure the signature.
of 100000 Missouri Valley citizens
in support Of the Missouri Vale,
Authority legislation pending in Con
greSS, Former Gov. Elmer A. Benson
of Minnesota signed the first petition
here July "a.
In signing, Benson, chairman of tn,
executive council of the Nationa
Citizens Political Action Committee
termed MVA one Of the major issue
on which progressive voters will iudg
Congressman seeking reelection ii
1916.
For politically-active citizen O
the Missouri Valley" he said, "th,
stand his Congressman takes on tn,
proposed Missouri Valley Authorit,
will carry perhaps greater importanc,
than his position on any other piec,
of domestic legislation.
And UNDERSTANDABLE so. There i
no other project now before the Con
greSS that promises SO great a con
tributiOn to a postwar Missouri Val
ley of full employment and ample
economic opportunity. Nor is there
another project that holds the same
promise of Transforming the Missouri
Valley into an abundant valley-a re-
gion of fruitful soil and water work
ing for the welfare of the people"
Benson, a farmer whose land is in
the Red River Valley of Minnesota,
bordering on the Missouri Valley, ex-
pressed the hope that every Mis-
souri, Valley citizen will give support,
in the form Of time and energy" to the
Regional Committee for MVA in its
mass petition drive. More and more
of this kind of work is needed" he
, commented.
General distribution of petitions be-
| gins following the meeting of the re-
gional organization's executive com
| r,aitto, II, Or,aLa 49, o