Arizona republican., 1902-10-09

Colorado Springs, Colo, October S. The national irrigation congress will retai it's idenity as an independant or ganization at least for another year. This was decided by a vote oi 11S to 91 at 10 o'clock tonight by those delegates to the congress who weathered one of the fiercest parliamentary storms ever seen in Colorado Springs.
 No political convention that has been held in this city for years has wit messed a more interesting or hard fought contest than that waged among the delegations at the congress after noon and tonight over the report of the committee bn permanent organization which consisted in the recommenda- tion of fourteen out Cf sixteen of the members of the committee that the national irrigation congress merge with the trans Mississippi congress, the former to constitute one C.: the branches of the organization to be erected by the proposed merger.
 All the speechmaking of today and tonight was of a very great interest. George Maxwell of Chicago, president of the national irrigation association, supported by nearly all the old-time ir rigation workers, sought to bring about the merger, feeling hat tho work of the irrigation congress as an agent fer the agitation of the national irrigation law had accomplished its work.
 F. J. Keisel of ogden. Utah, support ed at the start by only his own delega- ton, and only a part of that, succeeded in working up a sentiment in the con gross that 1t would be better to defer action on the proposed merger until the next annual congress and motion to that effect made by eX-Scnator Carey oi Wyoming, finally disposed of the question so far as the present con- gress is concerned.
 Mir. Keisel came here with the inten- tion of taking the next congress to ogden if possible and the indications now are that he will have no oppcsi- tion.
 After this matter was disposed of tonight, F. l.. Newell, chief hydro grapher of the government, and E. Mead of Wyoming, head of the irriga- ton department of agriculture ad dressed the congress.
 The fight over the merger proposition was precipitated by the report of the committee on permanent organization. F. R. Moses of Kansas, chairman, read his report, favoring the merger. Great excitement was created among the delegates, and there were dozen on their feet clamCring for recognition the moment MT. Moses finished. MT. Keis- el of Utah asked for the reading of the minority report before the discussion should be permitted and the secretary read a protest against the proposed merger signed by Keisel, himself. as member of the executive committee of the congress, he not being, however. a member of the committee on perman- ent organization. MT. Keisel stated that he had not intended that this be read and called for the reading of another minority report which was read by James w. Moore of Oregon committeeman of that state upon the permanent organization committee.
 Mir. Stearns of Oregon immediately moved the adoption Of the minority re- port and KeiseI seconded it. w. A. Stuart of South Dakota moved to amend by substituting the majority re- port for the minority report in the mo- ton and the amendment was promptly seconded by R. w. Tansin of New Mexico.
 Then followed a most stirring and
 
 made a strong appeal fer unity effort mentioned the inclination of ths age toward a combination of effort in all directors stating that this combination was not one fer dollars, however, but for doing things, d combination of pusi and energy that should make an or ganization so wide in influence and so wise in it's delibera ton that the nation al congress would be bound to place great weight upon it's resolutions upon whatever subject He also stated that he knew of but little opposition to the merger from the old members of the congress, those who had followed it's work and watched the progress of the movement fer national irrigation.
 J. M. Moore of Oregon, author of the minority report then outlined his posi- tion and that of one other member or the committee on permanent CTganiza- ticn who signed the minority report with him, J. W. Price of Wyoming, his objection being the general one that the irrigation congress should continue it's own work for the cause. on the tech nical one that the committee on per- manent organization was appointed to perfect a permanent organization for this congress and not to entertain or inaugurate a movement looking to it's merger with any other organization.
 Mr. Given of New Mexico, chairman of the executive committee of the trans Mississippi congress spoke in favor of the merger as also did l.. w. Fairchild of California, w. A. Stuart of South Dakota. Burton of California and others. The opposition to the