The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-02-01
Under the Surface

During the last week the has had exceptional
opportunities to learn something Of the ceases somewhat
bitter and amportant struggle going for the control
of hydroeectric This struggle of which the
in the street will hear and know little No
ratve will mention it. those independently owned
generally rating themselves LIBERAL will handle the
subject gngery at ALL while so-caed radical papers-the
kind that live without advertising paronagehave inadequate
facilities with which develop the facts and limited crcua
ton if thew do Yet this struggle involves literally billions of
dollars and its final outcome well depend the economic
and social fate of the nation for to The world has
moved into Control of hydroelecrc pow
long step toward curb and control of Big Business and
Monopoly that grows out of all development This
all liberal thinkers well all Absentee Landlords, well
know Hence the magnitude and intensity of the struggle
Friday last the final organization meeting of the
League for CVA held in Spokane Washington Oregon and
Idaho generously represented Montana somewhat less
Impressive indeed the political strength that had sent
its leadership to participate in the meeting Among these
State Oranges State Farmers Unions A. F. of L. and O.
organizations and Public Ownership associations all very
strong Columbia basin states Impressive too the ap
parent ability earnesness and zeal of the leadership thus
gathered These men mean to bring Valley Authority de
veopment to the Columbia and will not be content
daily long the They going to raise and spend
enough educational and pressure campaign toll
do the job.
Of immediate reports of the about
efforts now being made by privately owned power companies
not only stop Valley Authorities everywhere but to regain
of the publicly owned power generated Grand
Couee and Bonneville dams The lines of attack are numer
and dangerous because little understood
by the public
Provide any and all kinds of cut-throa competition for
Public Utility districts and REA Electric Co-ops halt
the spread of these public Stop further construction
of transmission lines and force distribution
Secure
require sale of all public private companies at the
site of its generation Buy lease otherwise absolutely
troll possible key unit in such generation and dsbu
systems the has constructed In
every available all the way from local districts
national policy regain and retain control of all hydro
power Methods of small moment; results
what count similar to the philosophy which Hitler
built Germany backed by enough Tory political strength
such policy will finally succeed.
On Monday last the writer privileged to attend the
annual stockholders meeting of Vgant REA Electric
which much of counties and has its headquarters
Dillon This of the older better stabilized and
Of Montana REA Coops. For the last year it's
efforts maintain going organization expand and all
the people within it's network of lines against the competition
and jobbery of private interests would
material for thriller novel, The attack this REA
seems to the whole gamut from raecuting
tempts elout 1t evidently quite line with
apparently happening all the country wherever there
is any movement for extension to public power o
JEROME G. LOCKE