GEORGIA: Mr. Willkie's Uncle George

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To folks down Atlanta way, Georgia Power Co. is "Uncle George." By & large, they think well of Uncle George. They also understand how Uncle George keeps politically fit. Georgians are not surprised when their lawyer-legislators after election get to be attorneys for the power company. Last year two out of five members of the important Legislative Economy Committee had been special attorneys for Uncle George; the Speaker of the House in Atlanta was a onetime power company representative. This system has been functioning well for upwards of 30 years. If let alone, Georgians will presumably continue to let it alone.

The company has total assets of $280,536,903, operates entirely within the State (in 138 counties, 626 communities & cities). Ever since red-gallused Gene Talmadge as Governor in 1933 forced a cut, Uncle George's rates have been among the lowest in the U. S. Politically, the company's two top figures are white-thatched, personable President Preston Stanley Arkwright and bulky, pervasive Fred B. Wilson, assistant to Mr. Arkwright. Neither able Mr. Arkwright nor Uncle George is entirely independent. Georgia Power is a subsidiary of Commonwealth & Southern Corp., whose president is GOProspect Wendell Willkie. As a subsidiary, Georgia Power is subject to the Public Utilities Holding Company Act of 1935 and SEC regulation. Last week this set of circumstances generated some high-voltage news.

The New York Times reported that SEC was digging into Uncle George's political ramifications. According to the Times, the investigation's nose was pointed towards grey, New-Deal-hating Senator Walter Franklin George of Georgia and his 1938 campaign (when the New Deal failed to purge him out of the Senate). Next was heard a loud bang from Atlanta. Roared Mr. Arkwright (after consulting Mr. Willkie): ". . . The Administration is now trying to smear Senator George. . . . Another pet hate of the New Deal is the utilities. This is an effort to smear both—to kill two birds with one stone, thrown underhanded." Mr. Arkwright then went further, denied things that SEC had not publicly charged: that Uncle George had 1) contributed to Senator George's campaign fund; 2) asked its employes to contribute to State, county or other campaign funds in Georgia. Under the Holding Company Act, all such activities by a subject power company are criminal offenses.