The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-11-14
BY JUDSON KING
Director, National League For
Popular Government
TWO UNFORESEEN EVENTS
CHANGE THE POLITICAL
PICTURE

revolutioniZed the entire political pic
ture. local and national, and put public
opinion on a par with hoped-for utility
campaign contributions and newspa-
per support They were the unex-
pected severity of the Republican at
tack in the new congress on conserva-
ton, reclamation and public power and
the unprecedented floods on the Mis-
souri, and the Mississippi in July.
Since then has come a third an immi-
nent power shortage, causing thous-
ands of businessmen and manufacture
ers to consider whether so basic a
thing as their power supply can be
left wholly in the hands of private
monopoly. Perhaps Uncle Sam with
his regulation of private companies
and his Twas is their good friend after
all, as many have found.
The congressional attack opened the
eyes of the people and even the bust
nessmen of the % states west of the
Mississippi to the truth that the west
ern political bigwigs which had been
collaborating with the national Repub-
lican policy makers were in fact be-
traying the legitimate growth of west
ern agriculture and industry boom
high above any partisan advantage
and what other sections of the nation
may expect.
The floods demonstrated the futilitv
of the Pick-Sloan method of harness
ing the Mighty Missouri and revealed
the necessity of an engineering and
economic resurvey of the entire basin
by disinterested, nonpartisan board
as provided in Section II of the Muir
ray bill.
Eyebrows in Other Valleys
Were Raised
After two world wars it takes some
such thing as a 5000 million shock
with hundreds dead and thousands
driven from their homes to arouse the !
nation. But this flood did it. The |
country gasped and millions exclaimed
"Oh, if they had only had a IVA to |
protect them like Tennessee" The |
floods reached their crest during the |
first week in July and the President
acted promptly
On July 8, front page headlines an
nounced he had summoned General
Pick, General Wheeler, Chief of the
Army Engineering Corps, and Chair
man Gordon Clapp of the IVA to the |
White House. Mr.. Clapp's presence
was taken to..isdicate that the Author
ity idea was tQuebe given its place.
But when the ference was over a
White House aid present was unable
to recall that that feature had been
discussed Following this, the Presi-
dent held private conferences, mostly
with Army Engineers, in preparing
message to congress.
Yet, the president is for Missouri
Valley Authority. At a press confer
ence on July 10 when asked by re-
porter for the St Louis Post Dispatch
whether he favored an MVA he re-
piled very definitely that he did and
had so stated several times.
The Mississippi Flood Control Plan
$4,000, 100000 for 10 Years
The special message of July 16 sur
)rised the country. Instead of confin-
ng himself to the Missouri he an
a bold, 10-year, $S,000,000, 900
scheme to harness the whole Missis-
;ippi River basin for flood control
rom the Appalachians to the Rockies.
lie asked for an immediate $3.50 mil
ion extra appropriation for a prompt
tart The situation was described as
a desperate emergency. The mes
age went on 1--WE already have plans
or the projects which would largely
rovide this protection the con-
truction agencies of War and Interior
nd Agriculture are already to proceed
With these projects when funds are
rovided."
What about Roosevelt's Single
for the Missouri and other
liver valleys? 1t was indefinitely
in few lines, thus:
"This plan does not change the
desirability of the ultimate estab-
lishment of valley authorities, but
the urgency of the flood problem is
such that we must take necessary
steps to expedite this program with
out awaiting determination of the
pattern for the vari-
ous regional valley development pro-
grams"
There is some clever phrasing here
hich leads one to wonder if some
ever craftsman did not put some
ling over on the President You
i'll note that Authorities are by<im-
ication defined as administrative
gencies This ignores the outstand-
g truth that these Independent reg