THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



153 



Sayre told of his long study in this special field and his 

 inability to interest farmers or scientists until within the 

 past few months. It is a recognized fact, especially in 

 the districts that have been practically abandoned on 

 account of the prevalence of this weed, that Professor 

 Sayre merits high commendation for his perseverance 

 and the successful issue to which he has brought his life- 

 long study. With the loco weed turned from a poison 

 to a food, thousands of acres may again be opened to 

 agriculture and grazing. 



Alarmed at the growing tendency on the 

 Federal part of bureaus and departments at Wash- 



Bureaus ington, to seize and retain those rights 



Threaten and authorities which are, by the consti- 

 Republic tution of the United States, vt-sted in the 



state governments, statesmen both in the 

 national capitol and elsewhere are voicing a protect that 

 promises to awaken the public to an understanding of 

 the imminent evil. 



Recent writings and utterances of that venerable 

 senator, Gore, of Oklahoma, command the attention 

 while the light of truth is thrown unerringly upon this 

 menace to a free form of government. Pointing to all 

 the pages of history and finding in each a confirmation 

 of this declaration that bureaucracy is the door that 

 leads to a monarchial form of government, he decries 

 the tendency of the times and throws the gauntlet to 

 those national officials who are active in support of 

 the movement. 



In a speech that has already grown famous for its 

 caustic criticism of the bureaus for their steady en- 

 croachment upon state rights, the Honorable Frank W. 

 Mondell, congressman from Wyoming, voiced senti- 

 ments that brought vigorous applause from his fellow 

 members of the house. Speaking to the subject of the 

 control of waters in non-navigable streams he severely 

 arraigned the policy that had been advanced from 

 certain quarters for the surrender by the state of its 

 rights in connection with the prospective water power, 

 and their assumption by the national government, for 

 the purpose of allowing easements for specified periods. 



At the conclusion of his argument against legis- 

 lation that, shall force states to yield their authority, 

 in this respect, to the federal government, he said: 



"It may be that some of the public land States have 

 not provided for the complete control of the use of 

 waters within their borders. It is possible that in none of 

 them the laws are perfect. The fact remains, however, 

 that nowhere, except in the people, to be exercised 

 through state agencies, rests sovereignty and control over 

 the nonnavigable waters of a State, and the people of 

 these western States have not only realized that fact, but 

 have clearly and definitely asserted that control by modi- 

 fying, or entirely abrogating the rule of riparian rights, 

 substituting therefor the law of appropriation, and setting 

 up administrative machinery for the regulation and con- 

 trol of the use of water. 



"This clamor for federal control over water and water 

 power is but one phase of a general movement in the 

 direction of niching away the reserved powers of the peo- 



ple and lodging them in federal bureaus. Sugar coated 

 with an appropriation, or the hope or promise of the 

 expenditure of federal cash, it seduces some of the most 

 ardent States' rights advocates. Advanced with the ex- 

 troardinary argument that to take authority from the peo- 

 ple locally and lodge it with a federal bureau is 'saving' 

 something for 'all the people' and from the 'interests,' and 

 backed by the demand of a certain section of the press, 

 inspired by socialistic government bureaus, the propa- 

 ganda has much influence with some legislators. 



"I care not what others do or think touching these 

 matters. For myself, I am still a believer in our dual 

 form of government; still wedded to the belief that the 

 people are better qualified to manage their own affairs 

 than federal departments are to manage them for them. 

 [Applause.] But whether I held these views or no, if I 

 were as fearful of the ability of the people to govern 

 themselves and attend to their own affairs as some seem 

 to be, I hold no credentials authorizing me to aid and 

 assist in a program which has for its purpose federal 

 interference with the reserved rights and powers of the 

 people who sent me here. I can not forget, and I shall 

 not forget, that the people of my State have said in their 

 organic act. 



"The water of all natural streams * * * within the 

 boundaries of the State are the property of the State 

 and that Congress has ratified that declaration. 



"I should be false to my path and recreant to my 

 duty should I favor these' policies which are in violation 

 of that declaration." (Applause.) 



Readers of this journal, who through actual con- 

 tact or study, desire information as to the question of 

 control of water power, will find much food for thought 

 in this speech delivered by Mr. Mondell before the 

 house of represents tivpr last December. 



To those who had expected startling rev- 

 Official elations and sensational testimony in con- 

 Inquiry nection with the congressional investiga- 

 Lags in tion into affairs of the department of the 

 Interest Interior, the preliminary reports of the 



proceedings are both insipid and uninter- 

 esting. Already public and press alike are inclined 

 to avoid the subject or to give to it only a casual 

 attention. 



Testimony of L. R. Glavis to whose writing? the 

 sensational press had given free rein a few weeks ago 

 and who was looked upon as the most damaging wit- 

 ness against the department, consisted largely in inti- 

 mation and suspicion. Proof for this suspicion failed 

 of development during his examination. His charges 

 against the department for its conduct in the Cunning- 

 ham coal land cases were based largely upon private 

 conversations with individuals. His testimony on all 

 subjects seemed circumstantial and the tangible state- 

 ments were based only on his own conclusions. 



The attitude of the department in regard to the 

 inquiry seems best indicated by its failure to provide 

 lawyers to question the witnesses or to in any way as- 

 sist or impede the process of examination by the mem- 

 bers of the inquisitorial body. Regardless of the attempt 

 by the house of representatives to "play politics" in the 

 appointment of the members of the investigating com- 

 mittee, neither the president nor the Secretary of the 



