The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-09
The Montana Irrigation Convention
Refuses to Endorse the Salt
Lake Platform.
For the First Plank It Substitutes
One That 1t Believes More
Feasible.
A Discussion Which, Continued tho EntIro
Day-Want Something Like
the Wright Law.

Montana does not want Uncle Sam to
give her the arid lands in the state. She 40
decided Yesterday by the unanimous vote
Of the delegates to the state irrigation CON
verltion. The delegates do want the gen
erhl government to aid in tho work Of re-
claiming the arid lands and so, instead Of
the Salt Lake plan they formulated ono OF
their own, Three sessions OF tho conyens
ton were held yesterday. ana all wera de-
voted strictly to business. Tresident
Hauser called the body to order few min
utes past 10 o'clock. Col. Word, in short
address, called the attention OF the conyen-
tlon to the fact that it was the 9Th day Of
january day remembered by all true
Americans as tho ono On which, in 1876,
Gen. Jackson defeated the British at New
Orleans. Following came the report Of the
committee on resolutions, recommending
that the convention 90 into committee OF
the whole for the discussion of the matters
stated i'll the governors call. This was
adopted, and also q motion that the Salt
Lake resolutions be taken up Beriatim.
Then the arguments for and against en-
dorsing the action Of the Salt Lake plat
form commenced. The action Of the con-
vention hinges on the first section Of the
resolutions, ana this was debated pro and
con from 10 a. NJ. to 1890, and from two b,
N. until six.
Judge Strevell, who was the leader of the
forces opposed to asking for the lands,
offered substitute for the first plank in
the Salt Lake platform, and the fact that
it was unanimously adopted later without
amendment proved that the judge was con-
versant with the desires of the ranchmen
and ditchmen. Commodore Power, ia
SHORT but concise talk, opened for the oppo-
sltion. He did not beat about the bush.
but in the plainest sort of language and in
the most direct way gave his views. He
said some things which apparently surprised
the delegates by the blunt way in which
they were put Judge j. w. Strevell, of
Custer county, followed Mr.. Power. with an
argument against asking congress for the
arid lands.
A desire being expressed to hear from q
delegate to the salt Lake convention, w. A.,
CLARK, of Silver Bow, was called for. Mr..
Clark went over the history cf irrigafion.I
told tne story Of the salt Lake conventio1ia
explained the reasons which actuated that
convention III passing the resolution under
discussion, and made altogether strong
plea for an endorsement for the Salt Lako
resolutions.
At the afternoon session A. g. Botkin, OF
Lewis and Clarke, also & delegate to the
Salt Lake convention, defended the action
of that body, and argued for an endorse
ment by the Montana convention. u. Il.
Burton, of Choteau. who followed Col
Botkin. talked just as earnestly against an
endorsement, making point of the fact
that the Salt Lake resolutions excepted
mineral lands from those asked. Follow
ing MIR. Burton. B. f. shuart, Of Yellow
stone, made HI argument i'll the same
line. Mr.. shuart announced that he
faS i,lI.
the matter from fa,met's . standpoint. MIR.
Shuart made no pretensions to u rhetorical
display. He held a pencil in his hand,
which he used to emphasize all the points
he desired to note, and his address was
plain and concise and directly to the sub
Beaverhead, against, Donald Bradford for,
A. J. Seligman aguinst, II. II. HOWE against.
j. X. Faulds. of Missonlu, against. The
vote in the committee showed good ma
joritv in favor OF the Stevell substitute. At
the evening session the substitute was
introduced by VIII. Sutherlin, of Meagher,
recommending that the legislature enact u
law similar to the Wright law, OF Califor-
MIA. was adopted. A. G. Botkin's resolu-
tion concerning the taxation OF bitches
was indefinitely postponed.
When the convention went into commit
tee Of the whole, President Hauser called
q. G. Chisholm to the chair. and the latter
presided during the day. While MI.
Power WAS speaking he held pamphlet in
his loft hand and made pregnant gestures
with it. The convention was not niggardly
III it's applause. and whenever speaker
made point there WAS general clapping
of hands. The rallchmen and those directly
Interested in irrigation wore in majority
in the convention, and just as soon as those
engaged in other pursuits saw the senti-
ments OF the farmers was against asking
For thH ariI lands tbau in1pal 6r with
them. The arguments on both sides were
good, but the result showed the farmers
made the best showing.
Tho convention will probably adjourn to-
day. the main object for which it was
called having been carried out. An inter-
esting featnre to- day, however, will be tho
reports from the different counties on the
State of irrigation in their boundaries.
There remains two sections of the Salt
Lake resolutions to pass upon, aud they
will undoubtedly be endorsed.
THE NlOHNINt2 SESSION