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<br />000934
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<br />GUESTEDITOR.IAL
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<br />Big Story of Rural Electrics
<br />Must Be Told Over and Over
<br />By M. A. MoWILLIAMS
<br />In 4IJibama BaraI_ Now.
<br />A married man cannot tell his wife once. that he love$, her, and
<br />then never.ten,her aialn. (That 1s, not,if he hopes to maintain the
<br />yery best relations possible.)
<br />Solt1s~'aIotottlllnglJ.
<br />A rora1 eI~ co-op cannot tell,lts
<br />awry once (or 10 times, or 100 times)
<br />and then quIt. and expect to,maintaln
<br />good publ,ic relations, and stand as
<br />tilgb'In the eyes of -the public as it
<br />sh91i1d.
<br />'I'be reasons for this are rrialty. A
<br />1ew'oltheseare:
<br />(1) Because l'\lta1, ~lectrlc oo.ops
<br />, are often mlsunder$tOOd by those who
<br />are not members; (2) because of the
<br />~ndous advert:1s1ng campaign
<br />aBalnst co-ops carried out constantly
<br />"by Commercial power companles--at a
<br />COIIt of nillUons of dollarzj; (3) be-
<br />cause _any' d'eitructlve crltlclsm
<br />, ~b$es the eye of the public more
<br />readily than construct1ve, actlons- 01
<br />the cOoperatlves.
<br />. And ~, the ~ Important
<br />reMoDt Is IieciuDe aJlJ' me:llSal'e. to be
<br />etfeotlve,'m.... be told over ~ ,OVel'
<br />...... ,n may be told In dltferlmt
<br />...", yeI" Imt It Ittdst_be told con.
<br />aiMU;y. ,
<br />Suppose a minister, preached only
<br />one 8e11l).On a year. How many people
<br />would he reach?
<br />Perhaps )'OUw wonderlng. "Wh1'
<br />lIhouJdtldsstol7-htold\"'''Whyp
<br />to Ute tro....Je. _when 01U" co-ops,'ate
<br />.PPatent17 80 aIrob&'. and - are dolq
<br />llUCh . pod Job""
<br />'GOod- ques~oris. To answer them
<br />woUld requ1r.e Jllore space. than this
<br />eolunm CSJ1 take. But, here's one
<br />good reason:
<br />In -IWUI,J" pla6e8 Over 0lLl' counfaoy.
<br />the ~_ powEll' companies
<br />are stepplq-up to a hw .Ievol, theIr
<br />attempts 'to creah dIssens10n and
<br />cUlntlsl~on am~II&' _ eo-bp ruem-
<br />lien. '1'hey are attempitlig to creah
<br />ClODd!Uons whIM wW. permit them
<br />(lhe power oootpanIes) to take over
<br />thepl'(lperites of the co-ops.
<br />&lleve me, my tellow electric, co-
<br />op, Iilember, the need to tell our story
<br />does exist. This 18ct slmply cannot
<br />be emphasized too strongly.
<br />How can this ;Job,of telling the rur-
<br />al electric story be done? It cannot.be
<br />done alone by the Board of Trustees,
<br />or the management !U1d personnel' of
<br />a cooperative-though they certainly
<br />must provide leadership and d1roo-
<br />Uon. .
<br />1t ctm be done only by the Trustees,
<br />the management and co-op personnel,
<br />AND THE MEMBERS, all working
<br />togetherl
<br />The rural electrl!lcaHon story Is a
<br />wonderful story. Most of you know
<br />It well It Is' a simple story to teU,
<br />It Is a story w~h will Inspire both
<br />the telleiand the llstener.
<br />It Is the story ot ,despair tlnally
<br />overcome . . . 01 pioneering . , , of
<br />hard work " , of faith , . , of hurnanl.
<br />tylo acHon.
<br />It Is the story of how the kerosene
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<br />....
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<br />
<br />lamp (and all the things which went
<br />with It) was made obsolete. It Is the
<br />s~l-y of hOw ,a great burden of drudg.
<br />ery was litted from the backs of farm
<br />women.
<br />It Is the IltoJ:oy of -how farm. people
<br />rGlIedupthelrsJeevesandworke:dto.
<br />g6ther. n 18 Ute s~ of how.,lmOugh
<br />faith In themselves and tIUltr God, lml'
<br />flU'D1 people wer~i able to' 11ft' them-
<br />solves Utwiilly "by thoIJo own boot-
<br />straps," and rais8 their standard ot
<br />Uvlng to Its present leveL
<br />It Ii the story_of hoW our REA C()o
<br />ops brought light_out o1,darkness for
<br />farm people. .
<br />Don't you agree that this Is a great
<br />story?, Don't you agree that- It 'Is a
<br />story worth the telUng-even If t1!.ere
<br />was not such a crying need for Its
<br />telling?
<br />And; may I repeat-and bluntly..,...
<br />it Is a story which MUST be told and
<br />retold. Apd It MUST, be told by EV.
<br />ij:RY MEMEER OF EVERY RURAL
<br />ELECTRIC CO-OP.
<br />I hope you will not think.r am cry. .
<br />ing "Wolfl" at a noil-existent danger, '
<br />In appealing :tor your help in this
<br />manner at this time.
<br />BelIeve_me, .e.l1angerto 0Ul'1?O"
<br />ops 'Is DOW upon us, -and It Is a very
<br />reall1anger. Unfo~teJy. 1$ Is !lOW
<br />. 10$ law tJum. m.any of 0Ul' po4
<br />rurld oIeeldo CI)-(lP members ~
<br />Itl&
<br />The-battle for rural electcl:ttcatlon
<br />has been once fought and won; Our
<br />enemies, who must not be underesti-
<br />'mated, will' see to It that the battle
<br />will not be as_easy next time, nor the
<br />outcome so SUte.
<br />
<br />Indiana Co-ops
<br />Seek Power Plant
<br />
<br />INDIANAPOLIS _ Congre~man
<br />WUIiam G. Bray (R., Ind.) has said
<br />he W8nUc Rurat Electrif,il;atlon Ad.
<br />mWstratlon to' -approve a record.
<br />breaking $42.mlll,lon loan :tor a c~p
<br />owned pawer plant_ near Petersburg.
<br />He told electrf.c co-op ontclals here
<br />that he favors:the loan and supports
<br />co-Ops "as the :tInest type of free
<br />enterprise." . .
<br />Co-op spolre8D161l also, said the,
<br />understood. Agdcolture Secretuy
<br />Ezra TaU Benson hAd given REA
<br />Administrator Davtd A. ~ full
<br />authority to make the loao It be:tlncb
<br />It economically feaslbIe.
<br />Indiana power companies, backed
<br />by the state utJlltles connnl.!fslon and
<br />a near-soUd delegation in CongresS,
<br />waht ,REA to turn down the-loan
<br />application.
<br />
<br />National Farm Safety Week
<br />, Juh, 21-27
<br />SAFETY PAYS ALL WAYS
<br />. SUND,!\Y-Ba,ve Reverence tor LU:e ,
<br />Take TIme to Take <Jare-,-Banlsb fatigue' and -teris1on of routine Uving.
<br />RealIze that hUte makes Wl:\ste. Plan to avo1d an over-crOw~ed schedule.
<br />'MONDAY-Home Safety
<br />Keet YOUI' Fann In 9J'd0r...:-Have a ,Place for everything and keep
<br />everything in Its place, Ellm,tnate hazards, as you t1nd them, Always be a
<br />good houSekeeper in' your home and on, your :farn:J. .
<br />TUllSDAY-IJvestock _ ,..'
<br />Be Opea.~ to SafetY S~gesttoiut-A ,Wise farmer listens to safety
<br />le,sons his chlJdren bring home .from school or !ann - group meetings..
<br />Keep'sntalter i:bIldren away from animals and check and re~ Uvestock
<br />eqUIpment regularly.
<br />
<br />WEDNESDAY-Falls
<br />PIaq Ahead-Good planning reduces the temptation to hurry, means.
<br />better production and fewer accldents. Repair or discard broken, unsafe
<br />ladders. Place' auards at h~ous: places.
<br />THVRSDAY-HlghwBY Tl'atllo
<br />Be- cotirleous on the lllahwa.y-A co~eollS driver belIeves In UvIDt
<br />and te&:unc live. Know and obey' all traffic laws-tolIow safe driv!itg.
<br />practices. Remove treeS and swbs near farm driveway 'entrance.
<br />. PBlDAY";'Machtne..y
<br />Don't ~ on Luck-Make sure your equipment Is in sa(e operat.
<br />Ing condlUo~make suie an i\W'dS and aatety devices are' in place, Stop
<br />"''''''',elI before 1lJ\cloggtng, , oUlng or, adjusting them.. , '
<br />, , ' SAfiJlmAY-Bev1ew Day
<br />'1'aII:e Safety emOUSly:Chee~ up on any farm aiid farm horn_e
<br />'hazards that might have been overlookl!d. Find and -eliminate aHeast two
<br />addlttonall;l~ <>>nd.I~ons ~und ,yo\lr ,~8l"ID.
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<br />IAL.ONG THE UNE... By Web Allisonl
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<br />"It could 'UJell augur lJ brave, new world lor the American lai'm6r.
<br />On the other hand, it might blow uj')."
<br />
<br />. Action on Power Policies Set
<br />For State Meeting, July 12 '
<br />President George Wilson has anno~d a record agenda tor the
<br />'annual sUmmer meeting of the Colorado Rural Electric Assoclation,
<br />to be l;Jeld in Denver July 12.
<br />"Top Items wIll include consldera.
<br />tlon oJ: organization and polley rec-
<br />orrimendattons developed at the all.
<br />rural.electrlc -meeting held In Grand
<br />Junction May 17 and the selection oJ:
<br />a new manager for the state associ.
<br />atlou."Wllsonsald,
<br />''In addUtGn, J expect U1e group to
<br />take action en several national: and
<br />state leglslaUve matters oJ: utmost
<br />Importance t9 state rural electrlet, OJ.
<br />h, .....
<br />He indicated that antl.plracy legis-
<br />lation Was a topIc that mlght- come
<br />beto_re the group, "although prob-
<br />ably we can't expect to begin any
<br />acHon in the, 'state assembly befOre
<br />the next se&S.lon, beginning in 1959."
<br />"I expect: the group will take a
<br />strong-,~~d 01l. several_Datlonalleg_
<br />fslaUve matters, including the_ threat
<br />of increased Interest rates on REA
<br />IQ8J1S and getting complete Colorailo
<br />conliessIonal support for all western
<br />developments Involving the genera.
<br />tlon of power.
<br />
<br />"ll;zperlenee" has .mught us In CoJo.
<br />rado that we must Join with the rest;
<br />of the _west In baokIng pubUo power
<br />developments in aU areas It we waD$
<br />suppot1 for the_ projects that wID
<br />bene1It Colorado," WUson said.
<br />Other items scheduled, to come be.
<br />10re the meeting incIuCle.the selec-
<br />tion 01 the meeting place for the an-
<br />nual 'tall meeting of the state asso-
<br />ciation. The state organization - bas
<br />already reee1ved an invitation to -meet
<br />In Grand Junction where the Grand
<br />Valley Rural Power Unes assocla.
<br />tlon has 'lISt constructed a new buUd.
<br />Ing.
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<br />CHRISTMAS' LIGHTS are just as
<br />effective ,when used during the
<br />Sl.lInDlertlme to Ught up !lower beds
<br />anCl, gardens. And for a real festive
<br />ocClisl.on such as a Fourth 01 JulY
<br />celebratlon--:-string . them across a
<br />front verandah or around the family
<br />barbecue.
<br />
<br />Kefauver to Continue Probe
<br />
<br />On Fast Power Tax Write-Oils
<br />Washington, D. O. - Idaho Power Company's attempts to in-
<br />fluence .. Senate decision -against Federal construction of a high dam
<br />at ileUs Canyon by returning Its $83JS-milUon rapid _tax write-oft to
<br />the Office of Defense Mobilization _ will not reduce the In-.ty of
<br />Senate Anti-Trnst and Monopoly subcommittee _hearings, Ch.8-irinan
<br />Estes Kefauver (Tenn.) announced last mOllth. "
<br />'Now, Kefauver said, '~we are Inter- high Federal dam.. At sl;all:e al8o, they
<br />ested in what changed Idaho,P~wer's have contended, are vast phosphate
<br />mInd." Only a week beJ:ore the dra. beds which could 'be developed into
<br />~tIc Senate vote -,Which brought a economic fer.tlIzers,., and lITIgation
<br />nui.1or' ,vlctoJ.y for rur8I,:electrlc co- and many o~er: benefits. whtel1-the
<br />oPerativeS and other ,preference cus- private utlUty s ~ either ignore
<br />,-. ,- -, -.' - orgreatJylDinlmJzq.
<br />*o~ IfYo: p:r;esldent Thomas E. -11'C....s atwm,ted ooUp ~e' ~
<br />Roach :flatly_ relused to "waive the ~ _tI1ari-_t4- hourS betor_e Uie Sen.
<br />certl:tlcates." , He's 4IHl8 apptOV81 of a high dam ..
<br />''We wtri wimt to know what _ HeJls- CaDyon was' the - fIr8~_ 'maJOI'
<br />'.. '-'... Mr ...--....' victory ~ oIeetrlo 1ead~_have
<br />pen ~ween - . ~s appear- IIOOl'&d In ~ 1"ean of determine4
<br />enoe _before this suboo~ttee and :fightlng fOl' the, Fedm.l p:reJ8c' be-
<br />Tlmnda7 when he reversed himself," fore_ CorigmJB, the 'JI'~' Powel'
<br />Ute TennesSean asseriOO. CommIsSIoi1, ~ In and ow; of tiaree
<br />iturai electric leaders' have' grimly co~ . ".- '
<br />antJclp8ted a Mwer' $orlage In the Kefauver, ~ '''lb_ST' p:Pc;~.} ,
<br />"With' ',--,.= -'" 'th - taDed ~use the Senate hli.s seen
<br />Northwest. - cons"'-""1"'on...... e them play fast and loose with this
<br />~f.=v:r_: :mj~ ~ Issue too o:tten." _,
<br />stretch ot the Snake River they also It was bad from the begfnnlng. the
<br />saw_ no reIIeJ:, for the bnpendtnr Tennessee legiE!la~ observed, 'P\~
<br />power shortaie. Instead they have ''the more you n~e It . . . the worse
<br />testified, utility plants would only It begins to look.
<br />.,produce halt as much,power, and a~
<br />'-over-double,the-costol;-powert:roma July. 1957 (olo.lbm1~.,Elettrk Nfws' 3
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