Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-05-23
THE IRRIGATIONISTS.
The Close of the COnyen-
ton.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
Speeches From Number of Dis
tinguished Gentlemen-Much
Interest Manifested.

Special to the Herald bU the Associated Press
SAN FRANcIsoo, May 22.-The Irri-
CATION Convention re assembled this
morning. A resolution was offered
and referred, perpetuating the Execu.
tive Committee aud giving them
power to continue the fight against Ri
parianists, as they saw fit. Judge North
Of Fresno delivered an address on the
English common law. He concluded by
stating he hoped the time would soon
come when the laws of the old Saxons
would not be recognized in this State.
and thought this time would come in
side of two years.
A resolution thanking the press of the
State at large was adopted 1t was then
decided to hold sessions this afternoon
and evening, in order to give members
an opportunity of expressing their views
on the question before the convention.
An adjournment was then taken until
2P.M
The Executive Committee OF the Irri.
cation Convention have invited num-
Der of prominent men to address the
Convention this afternoon. Among
those invited are Governor Stoneman,
Mayor Bartlett and Hon. A. A. Sargent.
THE AFrERsooN SESSION.
At the afternoon session of the Irriga.
ton Convention the following resolution
was adopted:
That this Convention earnestly re-
quests the Chamber of Commerce, Board
Of Trade and Produce Exchange of San
Francisco to express to the next legisla-
ture, by resolution or otherwise, their
sentiments on the irrigation problem.
The Committee on Resolutions report
ed that they had under consideration
the preamble offered by Mr. Kelsey con-
corning a State system of irrigation and
recommended that the same be referred
to the State Executive Committee, with
the recommendation that they receive
careful consideration. This was carried.
On motion of Will s. Green the Con-
vention adjourned sine die.
Speeches were then made on the ne.
cessity of irrigation by Hamilton Wal
lace of Tulare, who declared that
the Chinese question and all other public
questions in this State were trivial and
insignificant compared to that of irriga-
ton. Railroad Commissioner w. w.
Foot said that the Supreme Court de.
cision sustaining riparian rights is bad
not only 10 policy but in law. thought,
he said, to be overthrow in the interest
Of Justice. II. s. Dickson. of Fresno,
said that every riparian owner in the
San Joaquin valley demonstrates the folly
of the riparian rights doctrine by di-
verting and appropriating water for his
own use. He thought that il the irriga-
tionists stood firmly together they would
have the State with them next election
and settle the question. Judge Brun-
dage, of Kern, who rendered the first
decision against riparian rights, said that
the laws OF this State, as well as those OF
Congress, justified the diversion of water.
According to Blackstone the common law
must be applied to suit the wants and
necessities Of the people. The law is all
right, and with a fair Interpretation OF
it the irrigators can take all of the water
they want. Assemblyman Munday of
Sonoma followed. He was introduced
as "a man who stood by us in the Legis-
lature and who never deserted our colors
for minute" C. Mulholland of Inyo
described what irrigation had done in
rendering the eastern part of the State
fruitful. NJ. +. Tarpey of Alameda said
that north and south are similarly stu
ated with regard to irrigation, and with
a united front at the next election the
irrigationists or their opinion can sweep
before them the Legislature, Governor
and other officers. A number of others
spoke and a recess was taken until even
ing, when DR.. Shorb, VIM. T. Coleman
and others addressed the meeting.