The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-03-29
OommunIcated.l
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
An Interesting Letter Concerning the
Work of the Convention.
OMAHA. March "a, 1894
Ed. YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL:

I'D. YELLOWSTONE
The Interstate Irrigation Congress,
which assembled in Omaha on the 21st
and 22d insts.. had fine irrigating weather
at the opening OF its session, and took
advantage Of it to a proper and judicious
extent. Three hundred delegates took
part in the congress. and it was address
ed by several speakers who have achiev-
ed a national reputation by their knowl-
edge Of the subject which brought these
three hundred representative men to-
gether. The broad minded and level
headed mayor Of Omaha, George y.
Bemis, welcomed the delegates In a sen
sible and graceful address. Ten states
were represented on the committee on
resolutions. and the delegate from Mon.
tana was complimented by a place on
that committee which was composed as
follows: j. l.. Bristow Of chairman; L..
G.. Carpenter Of Colorado. secretary: Il.
A. McAllister and Major Clarkson OF
| Nebraska, Ira G. Hubbell of Missouri.
4. 4. Fassett OF South Dakota. Colonel
Butler Of Montana, 5. NJ. Knox Of Hi
nois. r. E. Warren Of Wyoming and Lu-
clan Wells Of Iowa.
or course the parties with little axes
to grind we're represented in and about
the convention. but they were compare
lively few in number. and they did not
succeed in gettiag the grinding stone set
going for their special needs. The com
mittee on resolutions was determined
that the great question should mol be
%nampered by 10y ~extraneous issues or be
Titled by the manifestation Of small pol
~iticians and local boomers. The resolu-
tions were unanimously approved by the
committee. and finally passed by the
ngr almost textually as they came
from the committee. but before this was
done. a second meeting Of the committee
made necessary by the presentation Of
some political and local ax-grInding res
olutions. which were referred 70 il. \
motion was made to add a third repre-.
sentative Of Wyoming TO the committee,
which was voted down. Among those
offered resolutions vas the time honored
one with the political ta2 tied on TO If,
pledging all participants to vote for no
man for any Office who was not for irri-
CATION before everything else. This was
promptly and unanimously disapproved
by the committee. The delegate from
Montana suggested that as an effort had
been made to give Wyoming three rep.
resentatives. the representative OF Mon
tana ought to have at least two votes,
. WHICH Eftultu W tlTtht III tDiuulltltc de
the fair thing TO do. But as the action
of the committee on resolutions was
unanimous. both In adoption and rejec-
ton. no further action was necessary on
the point, and there was no need Of be.
ing unanimous. plus one.
Many excellent addresses were deliv.
cred by experts. by which the general
knowledge Of the subject Of irrigation
was increased. OF course. as in all such
cases. delegates had to make believe to
listen while the usual chronic wind-bags
blew themselves out
Omaha. with her usual hospitality,
threw everything wide open to the dele.
gates. They were told To go to ahead
aud take whatever they wanted. and il
there was anything they wanted and did
not see, TO ask for il. They visited South
Omaha and were lunched there. The
Commercial Club gave a brilliant even
ing reception, and threw its doors open
with all its privileges to the delegates.
To the courteous postmaster OF Oma-
ha. Major L. 5. Clarkson. chairman Of
the committee on invitation, every dele
gate Is under obligations for exquisite
personal courtesy and valuable assist
ance in his duties. Ii seems as il nc
public function could be carried on in
Omaha without Clarkson's help. An
exceedingly busy man, he can yet always
find time 10 advise and help. Tall
handsome. with a magnificent presence
and a glorious voice which can be heard
without effort in every part Of the larg
est hall III the city. and which, while
powerful in volume, is melodious in
quality and soothing to the ear. Major
Clarkson in figure and spirit is q Of
those men who has the potency Of sway
ing d~elIberatiye assemblies. and his
knowledge of parliamentary business
his tact and suavity make him just al
effective in committee work. MajoI
Clarkson is a distinguished veteran o.
the war-was department commander o.
the Grand Army OF the Republic in ls9,
and senior vice-commander in 1891. Il