566 Presidential Addresses 



which national aid ensures should, however, awaken 

 in every arid State the determination to make its 

 irrigation system equal in justice and effectiveness 

 that of any country in the civilized world. Nothing 

 could be more unwise than for isolated communities 

 to continue to learn everything experimentally, in- 

 stead of profiting by what is already known else- 

 where. We are dealing with a new and momentous 

 question, in the pregnant years while institutions 

 are forming, and what we do will affect not only the 

 present but future generations. 



Our aim should be not simply to reclaim the larg- 

 est area of land and provide homes for the largest 

 number of people, but to create for this new industry 

 the best possible social and industrial conditions; 

 and this requires that we not only understand the 

 existing situation, but avail ourselves of the best 

 experience of the time in the solution of its problems. 

 A careful study should be made, both by the Nation 

 and the States, of the irrigation laws and conditions 

 here and abroad. Ultimately it will probably be 

 necessary for the Nation to co-operate with the sev- 

 eral arid States in proportion as these States by their 

 legislation and administration show themselves fit 

 to receive it. 



In Hawaii our aim must be to develop the Terri- 

 tory on the traditional American lines. We do not 

 wish a region of large estates tilled by cheap labor ; 

 we wish a healthy American community of men who 

 themselves till the farms they own. All our legis- 



