Southwest Washington Labor Press

LEAGUE APPOINTS ACTIVE WARD COMMITTEEMEN

WATER AND POWER LEAGUE COMPLETE WORKING PLANS OF ORGANIZATION AT MEETING LAST TUESDAY EVENING
Live Speaker To Address Meeting At Meeting Tuesday Evening, March 8, in Council Chambers.

Those who think of the Wynooche Water and Power League as slumbering and dreaming are much mistaken. The rank and file of the organization are busy and demand still greater activity.

The second meeting of the League was called to order by President Wieland in the Council Chambers in the City hall last Tuesday evening at 8:30 o'clock. Former City Attorney A. Emerson Cross, member of the committee on constitution and by-laws, read the proposed constitution and by-laws, which were approved and adopted for the guidance of the organization.

Attorney Cross suggested that it might be a good plan to call for volunteers out of the audience, to represent each ward in a drive for membership, and explained that the success of the movement depended largely on the efforts of members. In compliance with Mr. Cross's suggestion President Wieland asked for volunteers, and the following named members volunteered their services, and were appointed as committees in respective wards:

F. E. Swift, W. E. Winscott and C. M. Bebick from the first ward; Councilman J. W. Lightfoot, Dr. G. F. Messer, Mrs. T. J. Hatfield and Councilman White from the second ward;

A. C. Bozarth and Mr. Ulrich from the third ward; L. E. Murphy and J. C. Graham from the fourth ward;

Grover Boyle and J. R. Kennedy from the fifth ward; A. T. Winquist and Mrs. A. W. Douglass from the sixth ward.

Mr. Cross commented upon the difficulty of securing proper expression through the daily press, saying that it was necessary on one occasion to resort to a Seattle daily to get certain data before the people, that he had paid the sum of $42 to a local newspaper for the publication of an appeal from the mayor and the city councilmen, prior to the election in 1925. He explained that through the courtesy of the Aberdeen Central Labor Council, advocates of the development of the Wynooche project, now had a medium by which they can get their messages before the people without cost.

Mr. Cross read from a "Special Cushman Power Project" issue of the Tacoma Ledger several interesting articles pertaining to the construction of the Cushman hydro-electric project by the city of Tacoma. He pointed out that the Tacoma Ledger is a product of the Perkins press, who were formerly bitter opponents of municipal ownership, and then read an editorial in which they admitted that for a good many years it was the custom to waive aside the fine showing of the earnings of the city light department with the remark that if the books were kept like those of a private corporation there would be no such showing, but citizens of Tacoma are now convinced that it is profitable to own their own light and power system. He had another article in which the Ledger praised the ability and accomplishments of Chief Engineer J. L. Stannard and assistant chief Engineer B. E. Torpen, saying "Chief Engineer J. L. Stannard of the Cushman power project, whose genius is credited with giving Tacoma a bigger and better development than hoped for and far within estimates of cost given the city council in the beginning. His genius and ability saved the city's money."

In concluding his talk, Mr. Cross assured the audience that a good live
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outside speaker would be introduced at the meeting next Tuesday evening, and would present interesting facts in behalf of the battle for developing the Wynooche resources by the city.

Dr. G. F. Messer was introduced by President Wieland and quoted some very interesting figures on municipally owned projects.

The port terminal and base of Grays Harbor is just as favorable as those in Portland, Tacoma and Seattle. We have natural resources here in abundance, miles of undeveloped waterfront, and if we expect wealth and population to come here we must first do something for ourselves. He said that the timber is fast becoming depleted and if we were able to offer an abundance of water and cheap power we would be able to induce other concerns to come here and establish industries.

If bonds are issued to construct a hydro-electric plant on the Wynooche river I would like to see them issued in small denominations so that they could be sold to the ordinary working man and others in the city and thereby keep the money in our own community, said Messer.

Mr. Winscott stated that a good many mill men never had an opportunity to register, as the office of the city clerk was usually closed when the men were not working in the mills.

He suggested that some plan be devised whereby these men can register during the evenings. Councilmen Wieland and Lightfoot both said they would take the matter up with the city council in an endeavor to have a registration clerk on duty during the evenings.

In compliance with a suggestion of Mr. Ulrich President Wieland called a special meeting of the campaign committee to convene immediately after the adjournment of the League, that they might best work out a definite program to pursue in the best interests of the organization.