Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-11-17

the moral and social welfare Of our
people not less than our national pro-
gress.
Second, IL Is a fact we'll known to
eur citizens that vast sums OF idle
are available for our needs
whenever we can place upon a secure
basis such investments as may legiti.
mately be founded upon the public
honor and good faith, supported by
the assets which 1t has been demon
strated that we possess. This pecun-
larry resource is now beyond our reach
simply by reason Of our lack Of power
to fortlfy our contracts by legislative
action as In the several states.
Third, the boundaries Of the states
and territories being established by
natural or artificial lines not in any
sense dependent upon the distribution
OF our water supplies, and the South
west being in great Measure interest
ed in the adjustment Of questions
arising from the utilization Of waters
in the natural channels not lying
wholly In one state or territory, 1t is
absolutely essential that we should be
able to litigate upon terms Of strict
equality with our neighbors on all
sides. This is Impossible rnGer a ter
ritorial form of government, as we
have not the rights of states to be
heard In the United States courts.
Fourth, the arid lands within our
borders belonging to the United States
are now subject to sale and use, and
worse than this, the waters available
for irrigation are subject to diversion
without our control or consent, and
thus the conditions which most nearly
concern even our future existence as
commonwealth are beyond our own
control in a large degree. The admis-
sion Of the territories as states will
materially change all these hindrances
to advancement, and we emphatically
urge the placing Of these vital consid-
erations within the province Of the
citizens whose lives and fortunes arc
devoted to the upholdlng Of the civil
divisions VIC represent.
II. The International Irrigation
Congress which met in Los Angeles in
October, 1893, has wisely proposed a
plan OF organization for each and all
Of the states and territories interested
In these great questions, and we re-
spectfully advise and strongly urge
the citizens of the southwestern COM
monwealths represented in this pres
ent convention to cordially unite with
the state committees to be appointed
by the national executive committee
OF said international congress, to sup
lement the work of these local COM
missions and of the southwestern con-
vention by calling public meetings in
each state and territory and by con-
tribution Of funds and effort toward
the furtherance Of the great common
cause Of irrigation.
III. 1t is the sense of this conven-
ton, that whatever views may be en-
tertained by individuals or communi-
ties concerning the n Of bestOw-
ing national aid to the arid region,
some plan must eventually be adopted
by which practically all the proceeds
of the sale of lands within the borders
of each state in this vast tract may
accrue to the benefit of said lands,
and also that some provision must be
made whereby the national waters Of
this region shall become equitably
available for the irrigation of the lands
without power OF control of large
quantities for limited areas. In brief,
we demand that the rights and needs
OF home-makers shall be respected first
Of all and for all time to come.
The following resolution was sub.
mitted on behalf of New Mexico mem.
bers Of the committee, a6a Cor the &C
ton Of New Mexico delegates:
Resolved, That this convention
recommend the congress OF the United
: States that, in the act creating New
y Mexico a state, all unclaimed, non
mineral public land included within
a the present territorial boundaries b
2 ceded to such state; but upon the eX
r press condition that all reclaimabl
I portions of said lands be brought VI
8 der irrigation within reasonable time
at the expense of the state, and tina
@ such reclaimed lands be sold by tn
a state to actual settlers only, in tract
Of not more than eighty acres to on
n person with sufficient water right, an
d at a price not exceeding what may {
necessary to reimburse the state f