Electric Trust

The LaFollette progressives were counted out at the polls last fall, but they have by no means been silenced. Basil M. Manly, LaFollette disciple and mouthpiece, and director of the People's Legislative Service in Washington, last week attempted to revive the old attack on the General Electric Co. as a monopoly in the manufacture and distribution of electric light bulbs. Samuel Untermeyer started the assault with a letter to Mr. Manly on the subject, which the latter made public. The Manhattan lawyer asserted that the General Electric Co. had been allowed to escape prosecution on alleged criminal and civil charges made against it by the Lockwood Committee of the New York Legislature in the course of an investigation of the Manhattan housing shortage. Mr. Untermeyer charged in his letter that General Electric was "whitewashed" by onetime (1921-24) Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty, and that J. P. Morgan & Co. had "virtual control" of the Company. Mr. Manly added pepper to this highly-seasoned letter by declaring that Mr. Dwight Morrow, partner of J. P. Morgan & Co. and classmate of President Coolidge, possessed an "overshadowing influence in the present administration." Then Owen D. Young, Chairman of General Electric, retorted sharply, denied that the Company possessed any monopoly in incandescent lamps, asserted that it furnished to the Government all the facts requested in the recent inquiry. He concluded by denying that J. P. Morgan & Co. controlled the Company, and advised Mr. Untermeyer to "carry on any controversies you may have with J. P. Morgan & Co. or the Department of Justice without involving us either in your private quarrels or your political attacks."