Hungry Horse news., 1954-09-17
Orme Lewis Was Here

Saturday will see James Patton, national preSi-
dent of the Farmers Union, speak in Kalispen. We
do not agree with Mr.. Patton on many issues but he
is an outstanding national farm leader and good
speaker
It will be interesting to see if the Kalispell
Daily gives Patton anything like comparable space
to what was given Orme Lewis assistant secretary
of Interior in Kalispel, Monday behalf of Con-
gresham Wesley D'Ewart, who would be United
States senator. MIR. Lewis had the best possible
press treatment
ga federal government functoning as partner
with the people is the underlying concept in our
policies of the Department of Interior"
Mr.. Lewis sentiments on public power closely
agree with those of the Idaho Power Co., which In
turn is in harmony with the Idaho State Journal
and other publications of the Scripps League which
includes the Inter Lake. There's nothing under
handed, but it helps explain view points and press
treatment. Quoted paragraphs are from the Inter
Lake.
Mr. Lewis cites "Hells Canyon controversy
an example of 'dogmatic and stubborn attitude of
the Department of Interior under the Truman ad-
ministration. The government in this case fought
against the Idaho Power Co.'s proposed project to
build low-level dams to produce power despite the
fact that Congress had refused to appropriate money
to build a big government dam at Hells Canyon"
"The government is in the power business to
stay" was also a comment. "Some projects, such
as Libby Dam, too big for private enterprise or
other groups to develop"
Our thought and that of many others is the Re-
a big dam yet We believe that President Truman
should have stayed more the presidential pedes-
tai when he was in the Flathead two years ago in
stead of campaigning in rough and ready fashion.
Yet Mr.. Truman apparently was right when he
commented that you won't see another dam like
Hungry Horse built if the Republicans take over.
Of course President Eisenhower will be dedi-
eating McNary Dam on the Columbia next week.
The structure is not product of his administration
We are more in agreement with Mr.. Lewis on
his National Park Service stands expounded and
exceedingly well publicized in Kalispel.
He commented that the National Park Service
had become rundown during World War II and then
during the "cold war"
He reported on brighter picture regarding
the concessionaries. Rockefeller money incidentally
is building tremendous housing facilities at the
north end of Grand Teton National Park that will
also serve Yellowstone. The Fred Harvey interests
are spending $1,OO0,000 in Grand Canyon, and the
Glacier Park Co., contract is to finally hatch by
early winter This will provide for improvements
in Glacier including remodelling Lake Mcdonald
hotel, possibly on a $3.50 basis. The government
owns this hotel which is leased to the Glacier
Park Co., Great Northern subsidiary
We think the present administrations road
building program of $225OO,OO0 to spend yearly in
all the parks instead of fuctuating appropriations,
is good idea.
There is also favorable development in the
Rockefelers donating $780, 900 plus Congress match
ing s5OOOO0 for land purchasing This is in addition