SENATOR NORRIS RAILS AGAINST UNDERWOOD MUSCLE SHOALS BILL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 17, 1924, The Evening Star reports that Senator George W. Norris* (R-Nebraska), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is railing against the proposed (Oscar W.) Underwood** Muscle Shoals Bill.
The progressive G.O.P. senator says, if it becomes law it would make "Teapot Dome look like a pinhead."
It is his opinion that Democrats "plan to turn Muscle Shoals*** over to some private corporation" thus circumventing federal government operation. Norris condemns President Calvin Coolidge's support for the legislation.
JFK+50 NOTE
Senator Norris's proposals for the federal government to build dams & provide electric power for rural areas were vetoed by both Presidents Coolidge and Hoover.
The Senator would eventually leave the Republican Party & become an Independent. FDR called him "the very perfect, gentle knight of American progressive ideals" while the GOP regulars referred to him as one of the "sons of the wild jackasses."
*George William Norris (1861-1944) was born in York Township, Ohio & was a graduate of Wallace University & Valparaiso University LLB 1883. GWN served in the US House of Representatives 1903-1913 & U.S. Senate 1913-1943. He sponsored legislation that created the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933. Norris Dam, located in East TN, is named after him.
**Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & was a graduate of the University of Virginia 1881, LLB 1883. OWU served in the US House of Representatives 1897-1915 & US Senate (D-Alabama) 1915-1927.
OWU was one of the very few Southern Democrats to oppose the KKK which he considered "a national menace." JFK included the senator in his book "Profiles In Courage" because of that stand.
The Alabama Men's Hall of Fame says he was responsible for development of Muscle Shoals water power at Wilson Dam for explosive nitrogen during WWI & for agricultural nitrogen in peacetime.
***Muscle Shoals is located on the Tennessee River in Northern Alabama. President Wilson authorized a dam be built here to help power nitrate plants for WWI munitions.
Wilson Dam was completed in 1924, but it was not until 1933 that TVA was established to bring hydro-electric power to the Tennessee Valley.
SOURCES
"Norris Assails Underwood Bill," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Oscar Wilder Underwood," Alabama Men's Hall of Fame, www.samford.edu/
.jpg)
