Evening star., 1952-05-28

kefauver Urges ParleY
To Set Up Militant
Consumers Lobby
Senator Kefauver Of Tennessee,
Democratic aspirant for the presi-
dency. yesterday called on 500
delegates to the Electric Con-
sumers' Conference to create "a
continuing and militant con-
sumer's lobby"
His views were contained in a
telegram read to the group which
closed q two-day conference with
q banquet In the Willard Hotel
last night. Senator Kefauver's wire
stated:
'You recognize that the fight
against the selfish monopoly inter-
estS never ends. Today we must
not only shatter the drive Of the
private power lobby to take the
Nation on the road back but we
must continue to move forward to
guarantee that all the people bene-
At from our national resources.
On Capitol Hill, we daily feel the
force Of the special interest lobbies.
urge you to create a continuing
and militant consumers lobby. It
is time for the peoples voice to be
heard In Washington"
The conference to help fight
public powers battle with private
utilities was launched with White
House blessing. The IL labor,
farm. electric cooperative and
public power organizations have
agreed to set up an electric con-
sumers' conference committee"
here.
Reuther Hits MOnopolies.
At last nights banquet Walter
p. Reuther. president of the
UAW-CIO. said the electric
monopolies have special designs
in the st. Lawrence seaway and
power project.
1.-THE combined forces Of the
electric utilities, the railroads and
the coal interests now seek to
block the st. Lawrence seaway
and power project. The railroads
and the coal companies have de-
luded themselves, and would de-
ceive us. in the belief that their
own prosperity can be advanced
by retarding growth and develop
ment in other fields. Their in
credible stupidity bellies the whole
record Of the genius Of American
enterprise. BY freezing us into
the pattern Of the present they
would repudiate our past and
deny us our future"
Representative Dondero, Repub-
lican, Of Michigan yesterday in
troduced q resolution to investi-
gate the group. The resolution
calls for determination of the
alleged or actual sponsors of the
conference. and whether they are
"using their resources for un-
American and subversive activities
or for purposes not in the interest
or tradition of the United States"
He said, in House speech, that
the conference is pressure group
publicity stunt. designed to assure
Federal appropriations to the In
terror Department for public
power.
Vicious Campaign Charged.
President Truman, who ad-
dressed the group on Monday. told
the conference the private power
companies are spending millions
Of dollars in a vicious campaign
against public power. He said a
epncerted campaign Of facts by
the consumer groups would stand
them on their heads" The move
for continuing organization ap-
parently was at least partially a
response to that suggestion.
The conference has unani-
mously adopted a program calling
for development of power re-
sources, private or public, as rap
Idly as they can be soundly un-
dertaken, for Federally-built and
Federally- aided transmission lines
to municipalities and co-ops, and
for continued preference to States,
municipalities and co-ops in the
sale Of Government generated
energy.
Yesterday. Senator's Aiken, Re-
publican. Of Vermont, and Hum
phreys, Democrat, Of Minnesota,
addressed the conference.
The political arm Of the power
companies is far better organized
today than is either the Repub-
1ican or the Democratic Party"
Senator Aiken said. I'm some
spheres, it Is actually the DOM
1nant political influence"
Senator Humphrey assailed the
''vicious forces" opposing not only
public power development but low
income housing and other social
programs"
Others who spoke yesterday in
cluded Knox T. Hutchinson, as
sistant Secretary of Agriculture,
and Paul l.. Phillips, president Of
the International Brotherhood Of
Paper Makers (AFD.