The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-14
MERGING Of TWO CONGRESSES
Is DEFEATED.
CONTINUES ITS OWN WORK
Present Irrigation Congress Will Keep
Up Independent Action in
Good Cause.

LlOudl lIIlkdIlOA COl6AC00 IAAAo Ian -
ing was addressed by Congressman
Tawney, Morris and Stevens, Of Min
nesota, all Of whom took the irriga-
tion legislation and it's history for a
theme.
Mr.. Tawney especially made a very
strong address and was enthusiastic
ally received by the delegates who re.
gard him as more responsible than
any one else for the overcoming of
the opposition in the house in the
consideration of the irrigation act.
Ex-senator Carey, Hon. r. w.
Bonynge Of Colorado, Professor Z.
G. Carpenter Of Colorado, Wesley A.
Stuart Of South Dakota, Professor T.
Shaw of the Minnesota Agricultural
college, and Thomas Holland, repre-
senting Commander Booth Tucker of
the Salvation Army, also spoke dur
ing the morning session.
The afternoon session was opened
with the reports Of the progress Of ir-
rigation in the entire irrigation belt.
given by the state engineers and other
prominent delegates from the differ
ent states.
The fight over the proposition. to
merge the irrigation and the Trans
Mississippi congresses into n or
ganization came up by special order
at 4 o'clock. E. r. Moss of Kansas,
chairman of the committee On perma-
nent organization, read the report,
which favored the merger. A minority
report was read by James w. Moore
or Oregon.
Then followed a stirring and Wig
orous debate. Mr.. Moses of Kansas
made a strong appeal for the merger.
The inclination of the age, he said, is
toward combination of effort in all
directions. This combination will not
be n Of dollars, however, but for
doing things, a combination of push
and energy that should make an or
ganization so wide in it's influence and
SO wise in it's deliberations that the
national congress would be bound to
place great weight en- it's resolutions
upon whatever subject. He said he
knew Of but little opposition to the
merger from the old members of the
congress-.
John E. Moore of Oregon said his
objection was the general one that
the irrigation congress should con-
tinue it's own work in the cause, and
the technical one that the committee
on permanent organization was ap-
pointed to perfect a permanent Or
ganization for this congress and not
to entertain or ~inaugurate a move
ment looking to it's merger with any
other organization.
The debate that followed brought
most of the irrigation states into the
discussion, and the audience of fully
600 persons remained in the hall until
nearly Z O'clock, when. adjournment
for supper was taken
Daniel Lawler, the golden-tongued
orator of the Minnesota bar, favored
the merger in a notable speech.
Given Of New Mexico, chairman of
the executive committee Of the Trans
Mississippi congress-, spoke in favor
of the merger, as also did Wesley
A. Stuart of South Dakota, Burton Of
California and others.
The opposition to the merger was
led by Major r. w. Young OF Salt
Lake, of the famous Utah battery of
the volunteer service in the Philip
pines. He was supported by State
Engineer Doremus of Utah, Delan of
Colorado, Alvin NJ. West of Utah and
others.
President Maxwell, of the National
Irrigation association, favored the
merger in a speech of more than an
hour. John Henry Smith, president
of the Trans-Mississippi congress,
made a strong argument to the same
end.
Recess until 8 o'clock was then
taken.
At the night session a motion by
ex-senator Carey of Wyoming, to post
pone the matter until the next SEES
sion of the congress was adopted.
Its Session Ended.
Colorado Springs, Oct. 9.-The Ma
tional Irrigation congress adjourned
today to meet next year at Ogden.
Utah.
The following officers were unani-
mously elected: President, Colonel
Edwin F. Holmes of Salt Lake, Utah;
first vice-president, Governor L. Brad.
ford Prince, Sante Fe, N. M; second