THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



327 



TION AGE that the only clean method of handling both 

 the Eeclamation and the Forestry Bureau is by a com- 

 mission composed of strong men who are fully ac- 

 quainted with the needs of each of these bureaus; men 

 who may be approached by those who have grievances 

 and by those who are trying to remedy evils that may 

 and will perhaps always creep into work of this char- 

 acter. 



At the coming congress which will be held at Al- 

 buquerque, September 29-30, and October 1 and 2, 

 it is hoped that many matters which have been ignored 

 at former congresses will be taken up and acted upon, 

 among them the grievances of the Inyo County Delega- 

 tion, who were wholly ignored, in fact ridiculed by gov- 

 ernment officials at the congress held at Sacramento in 

 1907. It is true, perhaps, that Inyo County would have 

 received better consideration had not the gentlemen who 

 came from that section exploited their plan through 

 the press before their arrival at Sacramento. One of 

 the peculiar results of this too early exploitation was 

 the fact that government officials were put on their 

 guard. They handled the matter through the daily 

 papers of Sacramento before the congress convened, and 

 in a way belittled the delegation so that when their 

 complaint was brought to the attention of the congress 

 scant attention was given to them. 



A peculiar condition exists in connection with the 

 work being done throughout the west by the Reclama- 

 1 iou Bureau and this was never more clearly shown than 

 at the Sacramento congress. 



Wherever government work is contemplated or be- 

 ing carried on it is reasonable to suppose that all of 

 the citizens of that district will reap benefits to a greater 

 or less degree from an expenditure of the vast sum 

 handled, and the ultimate good results which will fol- 

 low that expenditure. It is also reasonable to expect 

 the newspapers of each particular district to support the 

 government officials in every way possible and it is fair 

 to suppose that any one criticising the Reclamation 

 Service in any way would be in turn criticised by the 

 papers who represent the district which is deriving 

 good from work of this character. 



It was never intended, if our view of the mattur 

 is correct, that the Reclamation Service or any other 

 government bureau would use that influence which 

 naturally results from a condition such as described, to 

 belittle individuals who have real or fancied grievances 

 against the methods employed in their locality. It ?s 

 doubtful if these conditions have ever been clearly 

 brought to the attention of the President, otherwise, it is 

 our impression that he would have taken a decided 

 stand and seen that every one who has a grievance 

 got a "square deal," that being a condition about which 

 the President has talked much in times past. Some 

 day we hope to take up the subject of "the square deal" 



and will attempt to illustrate how little along that line 

 the western people have received. 



People who have been pioneers, who have spent 

 the better part of their lives in developing virgin ter- 

 ritory, who have endured hardships, who have raised 

 families under the most trying difficulties; all of these, 

 so far as our knowledge goes, have changed their mind 

 on the subject of a square deal by the President. One 

 of the most peculiar conditions surrounding the whole 

 affair is that those who know the President and believe 

 in him, feel that he would not tolerate conditions as de- 

 picted by us in times past, if all of the facts were 

 clearly laid before him. The trouble is, so far as we 

 aie able to judge, the President depends largely on 

 bureiiu heads, and if an individual in the west com- 

 plains that he is being imposed upon by an official and 

 the government official reaches the President first, that 

 individual receives scant courtesy when he presents his 

 case at the White House. This is unfortunate, unfair 

 would perhaps be a better word. 



Mr. Thomas Walsh, of Colorado, has informed the 

 editor of THE IRRIGATION AGE that the President is 

 inclined to ^'ve every man a fair show. Reports from 

 various individuals throughout the west who have at- 

 tempted to present their grievances to the President 

 would indicate that the contrary is true, and yet we 

 know that Mr. Walsh is sincere in his statement and 

 fully believes that the President is sincere in all of 

 his work and efforts. The general impression in the 

 west is that he is led by some of the men in whom 

 he places the greatest confidence and it is safe to say 

 among these men Messrs. Newell and Pinchot stand 

 clear before the gaze of the men who have helped de- 

 velop the western empire. Why will the President not 

 investigate more closely and give the mass of people a 

 or ance rather than plae-.i so much confidence in the 

 heads of bureaus ? 



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