25-4 



DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



of an orator, and I am very sorry that when I go home I will have to 

 tell my people that from this time on it will require someone that is able 

 to get up before an audience and make a talk, and that is not me. 



Now^ in regard to Arizona, gentlemen, I am appealing to you honest 

 men to bring the next Congress to Arizona. Why? Is it because we have 

 any experimental stations? No. Is it because we have any irrigation? 

 No. Is it because we can get any water to irrigate? No. Arizona has a 

 thousand qualifications that I wish I were able to put before you in the right 

 light today. There are two which seem to be paramount. One is that anyone 

 coming to Arizona and staying thirty days will never leave, and anyone com- 

 ing there and staying ten days and leaving is sure to come back. The other 

 qualification which I have in mind is that anyone drinking water from the 

 Hassayampa River will never tell the truth thereafter. I am sorry that 

 I have to admit that I have imbibed freely. (Laughter and applause.) 

 But, gentlemen, I hope you will believe me today in part — yes, in 

 whole, for I am going to try to confine myself to the truth, 

 and if you have any doubt in regard to what I say in regard to Arizona, 

 wire and find out and see how many people will tell you that McCabe 

 does try to tell you the truth even if he has drunk water from the Hassa- 

 yampa River. 



In regard to Douglas. Douglas is a town you have heard of repeat- 

 edly here in this convention. You have heard read telegram after tele- 

 gram inviting you people to Douglas. Why? Do they want you there 

 for any particular reason, or why are they sending on telegrams from 

 every Board of Trade throughout the county? There are four telegrams 

 here from different mayors throughout my county. Why are these people 

 so anxious to have you there? Is it necessary that Douglas should have 

 the advertising? No, sir. I will tell you why it is. There are only a few 

 of us farmers down there that have been trying to exist for a number 

 of years in our weak way, and it is almost impossible for us to get along. 

 I have been talking to these people for a number of years, and telling 

 what was in view if they would come to our rescue, and when I left there 

 I told some of these people that perhaps in six weeks, or six months, or 

 six years they would awaken to appreciate the effect of a Congress in 

 their city. In coming through Benson — there is an industrial school at 

 Benson — the Superintendent told me in coming through Benson — patted 

 me on the shoulder and he said, "God bless you. Mack; I hope you will 

 win out." He says, 'T want you to tell these people of the Congress for 

 me if you will, that I and my boys went out here on this land and cut 

 six hundred tons of hay." He said, "Four hundred tons of it sold for $15 

 and the other 200 at $20." 



Now that is the kind of land that I am before you with, gentlemen, 

 trying to draw your attention to, and asking you for 3^our assistance. Our 

 count}^ is 82 miles east and west and 75 miles north and south. We have 

 one small river, the San Pedro River, running northeast and southwest 

 across one quarter. About four years ago we thought it advisable to 



