Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1892-01-30
Senator Powers Speech.

the irrigation convention was little
needed at the time it was delivered
Men who were present say the SEN
atOr WAS not even accorded the
proper attention that etiquette
yonld demand, yet he was deliver
ng famous speech. That speech
las aroused the ire Of Associate
Justice Field, Senator Warren Of
Wyoming, and Of Senator Sanders.
Mr.. Justice Field has written Sena-
tor Power telling him lit was a false
hood' and Senator Sanders says
''it occurs to me he did not say i"
The Helena Independent had a
stenographic report Of all the
speeches at the convention and the
speech of Senator Power as pub
lished at the time was as follows:
"Nr. Chairman, [ am not going
to take up your time by making any
remarks on this section, tut On the
subject from it's beginning, from its
incipiency to the present, if that is
in order. You have heard the reso-
luton, sugar-co.ted, or You can
read it in the proceedings Of the IL
rigation congress at Salt Lake, the
crystallization Of their action, which
is to cede these lands to the states
absolutely. This action Of the Salt
Lake congress was preconcelved
and prearranged before the con
geess met. The delegates from this
state, and I believe they will not
DENY my assertion, did not under
stand the situation. Gentleman
will appear before YOU to-day who
will speak on this proposition. This
convention did not understand that
a deep and concocted plan had
been laid. ! did not understand
its drift until told by some of the
senators and | watched these sena-
tors, | wanted to know why, and
saw afterward that it was the CEN
traization Of power, the increasing
Of their holders. | refer to the SEN
ators from Wyoming.
AT the organization Of the SEN
ate I thought / saw this cropping
out. ! asked to i1e put on the irrl-
cation committee. They said we
will see. A committee Of seven
was named. | found was left out
but prior to it | was asked how |
felt about segregation. [ said it
was winter and we might want to
| ask the old man for something. |
was referring to appropriations. The
remark: did not suit them. That
committee is formed of Senator
Warren as chairman. The others.
outside of the chairman and mem
bers Of the railroads, committee are
lawyers. I tried to convince that
committee of seven that | was inter
ested in irrigation; that | went tC
Dakota in 1860 when crops could
not be raised, and where they
now raise millions of bushels.
thought [ understood the subject
No, sir, there was no place for me
because | did not absolutely fal
into the trap. Now, follow up tho
work. Governor Thomas issucc
his call. The crystaIlization o
that work you will see later. Thel
came the direction of the governor
Then the organization Of this con
venticn. When we wanted to ge
chairman, Mr.. Clark was spokel
of. We wanted to make him chair
man, but he was committed. w
took chances on Govorner Hauser
and 10 and behold he is committed
Now, | say, keep your eyes opel
and look out. You will be asket
to remain here a week it this can
not be accomplished. say NEE
the issue; vote direct whether yo7
want the lands ceded to the state
and in that way oppose all apprc
priations from the government.
''There are perhaps 100000
acres of arid lands. The Dak akot
congressman say they will stand b
) the old man who holds the purse
[ would like to be SO instructed b
! this convention. California is
country owned abbsolutte11y = ii
roads. Every business man VIII
goes there can't deny it. That ii
: Auence controlled the Salt LAX
f convention. | ask Mr.. Clark an
/ Mr. Gregory to deny it. There i