Fergus County argus., 1902-07-16
AN ADMIRER
OF ROOSEVELT
Senator Paris Gibson Says the Pres.
ident is Just the Kind Of Man
. for President. I
HE MADE IRRIGATION POSSIBLE
Has the Courage to do Just What He
Believes is Right, Regardless of
Adverse Criticism.

i tell you, ii is a splendid thing
tor the country TO have a man like
theodore Roosevelt in the White
House and IL the Republicans are to
again elect the president, it is my sin.
cere hope that he will be the man.
Thus spoke United States Senator
Paris Gibson to an Inter-Mountain re.
porter, at his hotel today.
Hale and hearty may be a stereo.
typed expression. but taken in its
literal meaning. IL is most fitting to
express the actual appearance of the
sturdy Yankee and kindly disposed
gentleman from Northern Montana.
who so ably represents this state. in
part. in the United States senate.
Many OF the senator's west side
friends called upon him. and while
he remained in the lobby OF the hotel
he was highly complimented and con.
graduated upon his instantaneous sue.
cess as national legislator.
The senator made no attempt TO
disguise his pride and pleasure when
the irrigation measure was mention.
ed. Mr.. Gibson takes an optimistic
view OF the dormant agricultural re-
sources and possibilities of his sec.
tion OF the state. and while. largely
owing TO his efforts. IL has been prov.
en- that crops can be grown on some
ol the prairie lands without irrigation,
he has ever been a consistent adyo-
cate OF government aid In storing the
waters OF the great streams flowing
from the snow-clad mountains.
Montana Produces Fine Barley.
IT Is not generally known" said
the senator. but II is a fact, never
theless, for II has been demonstrated
beyond a doubt, that In the counties
OF cascade, Choteau, Teton and Val.
ley. a barley Is produced. with or
without irrigation. that is the best for
mating purposes grown anywhere in
the known world. There is enough
good water going TO waste, overflow
ing the land and doing great damage
along the lower banks OF the Missouri
and Mississippi. il placed under prop
er control in storage reservoirs. to ir-
rigate and make blossom as the rose
millions upon millions OF acres OF now
comparatively worthless land
Speaking OF the irrigation measure
which has just become a law, the
senator said that il was only a be-
ginning. but that there was absolute
ly no question that the results would
be so Immediately beneficial that
there would be no backward step
and that from now on the efforts of
congress would be TO enlarge and i'm
prove upon the present law.
Again. indulging in prophecy. the
senator said: The time will como
when what is now known as common
grazing land and which under our
present land laws is classified as des-
ert, but which in reality is as good
land as was ever turned over by a
plow, will be thickly dotted with hap
py homes and supporting a population
OF many thousands OF free and en-
lightened Americans"
President Aided Passage.
Being questioned as to the help re-
ceiyed by eastern senators in the pas
sage OF the bill. the senator grew more
eloquent than usual. and said: The
western senator's worked faithfully
and ably together. and We, of course.
received help from the eastern states,
but ! doubt II the Dill would have
passed at all except for the president.
Il had the pleasure of several talks
with the president upon affairs ap-
pertaining to the west in general, and
the irrigation measure In particular,
and found that he fully understood
the conditions existing out here. and.
what is of more value to us. he fear
lessly championed our cause. The
bill was at one time so amended that
II was worthless and we were unable
to change IL. but Mr.. Roosevelt. who
had all the time kept in touch, prompt
ly sent for several republican sena.
tors, and by his vigor and knowledge
Of the subject, rounded them up to
assist in some amendments and warn
ed them that he would kill IL with his
veto II they did not do SO.
He Is the first president the coun.
try ever had who really understood
the actual conditions and wants of
the people in each OF the states, and
then he has the moral, physical and,
! might say. the political courage, to
do just what he believes to be right"
The senator will remain in the city
couple OF days at least.