The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-02-05
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
or MONTANA
extend PUBEE POWER
By JEROME G. LOCKE, Helena


nearly years continuous ABSENCE
glad back Montana missed personal contact
with hundreds of and the leaders OF many liberal
causes.
Thru courtesy of THE PEOPLES VOICE editor am now
privileged to voice. in several articles of the shocking
truths that have been building crystal clear outlines dur
ing absence and public inactivity This opportunity well
coined The political trends OF have reached
such danger point that can no longer remain silent and be at
with my conscience will live with feeling of guilt if
fail to protest best the threatened and
ring rape OF our naona last nauona heritage
of the great of and unpretentious people
have designated the program which powerful economic
ana pohcal interests are now putting over as rape OF our
natural resources dislike this expression but think of
no words that will accurately describe it. The truth of
this will be abundany clear as we recte ana document some
of the shocking facts that have not been generally disclosed
Under the catchy but meaningless slogan sop creeping
socialism, virtually ALL of remaining natural
slated for transfer private business This
largely monopoly capital Key to future development and
general public and benefit of these remaining
publicly owned and controlled So the head
line under which this series of exposure run will be EXTEND
PUBLIC POWER This will wide field of ramfcations
and include discussion of secreve methods thru which
such program is being made effective.
Before getting down to the meat in this cocoanu perhaps
should word two about the struggle for MVA in
and regional organizations Due to temporary turn
of the political wheel 1852 MVA lies doman It is not
dead will die In to periodic droughts,
recurring floods and finally increasing population and its acute
need pound food and fiber than be produced will
bring full scale valley development In ten of argument
debate organization and individual has been able to
outline other plan procedure that promises to
do the job will take few yet but time and
marching events will finally force the MVA into reality.
battlers for the MVA concept have many
that Will all
tue Many necessary dams ana reservoirs are now nshed
under construction good beginning toward trans
mission work has been installed cheaper for small
consumers was forced real beginning toward mupurpose
development been registered spots Perhaps the most
important victory of all pertains to water
When PckSoan launched and for thereafter,
Army Engineers laid claim 142 million feet of water
for navigation channel In the fall of 1852
before President Truman Missouri Survey Commission this de-
mand officially relaxed to 90 million feet of water
with admission that this quantity might not be available in
years Based million of projected irrigation Recla
nation Bureau Engineers cut the probable navigation water
ply down to 84 million feet per year.
doubt that these facts appear in the published report of
Missouri Survey Commission They fully set forth in its
files, which public records and available call
firmly believe that time the pork barrel navigation channel
will be discarded entirely and the total of land that
be irrigated from Missouri River will from the million
projected to 10 million This only partial but
important VA victory that will register in the future
Some recently gathered data general develop
ment Public situation particular will begin
a axt unal,S article