Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-08-17

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that i. would succeed. Only an op-
timist of the Colonel Sellers breed
could take hope from such a condition
of affairs
The arguments IN favor OF govern
ment control CT the arid land irriga-
ton problem are spscious. The Los
Angeles Times and its followers in
this territory have had a good deal -
say about job in connection with
the movement to cede the lands. They
say that if Arizona, for instance, were
to be given the arid lands within is
borders It's people could not be trusted
to dispose of them for the public good
What, then, we ask, becomes of the
Iplea Tor statehood? If Arizonians can
not be relied upon 10 deal honestly
with the territorial lands what rights
have they in respect of statehood that
the congross is bound to consider? The
territorial legislature, on which the re-
sponsibiIty CT dispcsing of these lands
w9llld rest primarily, is elected by the
voters of Arizona IN the same way
that state legislatures are chosen. If
the legislature is not 20 be trusted,
neither are the people of Arizona, for
the legislature is supposed to represent
the strongest element in every county
| If the people are to be placed under
such a ban as The Les Angeles Times
sets up then what becomes of the
Statehood issue? Of what use would
, be statehood? 1t 5 sufficient answer
to the Times ridiculous declaration of
fsar of corrupt Influences to poir.s to
the case OF Texas, whose handling of
dts vast stretches of public land has
excited the admiration OF the whole
country. Are the people of Arizona
or New Mexico or California to be
classed as inferior to ,.hcse CT Texas?
A point which is not dwelt upon by
the federal aid theorists relates to the
disposal of the lands after the govern
ment has reclaimed them. Is she
COVER nment to go INTO the land broker
age business? Is it to build and main
tain canals, and sell water rights and
protect the purchasers in their rights?
Is it to sse that ranchers living under
canals are not granted excessive priv
ileges, and vice versa? Is It to I'M
dertake, On a great scale, tihe tasks
that heretofore have fallen to private
corporations? How would the condi- /
lions be adjusted so that the inhab- !
itants of the lands that are to bios |
som as the rose" would not feel like |
ssrfs? Any man with knowledge of ,
the irrigation problem may easily see |
obstacles innUmerable that the gov
eminent would have to coI.end with.
1t is remarkable how little light has
been thrown on this feature Of the
question by the people who are cry
ing Job
Now that the Times and ether pa
pers the.s are doing yeoman service
in behalf OF federuI aid'' have enlisted
for the wa- The Republican advises
them to go the whole figure" and
advocate government control of the
railroads and of mines ard of every
other big agency OF production. If
the government can consistently be
asked to pace wafer On the arid
I
advance money to aid pr0spectors?
Thsre is wealth galore in the noun
rains of Arizona. Why should not
yCvarnme aid be asked II its ex-
raetiQn? There are pioneer railroads
IN the west that are doing wonders in
me WY of developing vast stretches ]
Of country Why shouldn't the gov
zrnme1t give them a helping hand?
Thare are miners in Arizona and New
Mexico and California who with gov
srnment aid could excite the cupidty
If the world Wouldn't it |compen-
sate the country to have this aid ex-
ended?
If the arid west is to be reclaimed
is reclamation mus come through
,ession Of the arid lands ard the wise (
Idn nistTatfon Of thl5e lands by state
md territorial authorities. So far as
Arizona is concerned there is mag ,
if1cent field here for irrigation and I
.torage er.erprises. The Hudson res \
rvoir schsme, involving several mil s
ion dollars. is on the eve of acc0mp- :
lshment. Others, long projected. now t
how x gns of an early revival. The 6
ountry was never SO prosperous; '
Eoney was never SO plentiful We ask
,ur readers if they would prefer to see
he Hudson people cea9a operations /
nd every other proposed irrigation I
nterprise BE- hung up while we wait a
Or federal aid? 1
The Times and the other papers c
yhich have .aken up its cry l2or gov I
rnment construction of reservoirs
re following blindiy the lead OF lot
f wiId-eyed propagandists of gov
rnmsnt owner slip of everything"
,ut thai is not 50 important as the =
injury which they are doing ID all s
.orage enterprises by persistently 2
the idea that privnte capital '