Arizona republican., 1904-10-20

4s Culelly uSelul III promoting lana
 frauds in California and some other
 states.
 We now come to MT. Smiths second
 trouble. He is greatly worried because
 the National Irrigation association
 does not go out of existence. He is
 greatly worried because the transcon-
 tinentaI railways, seeing that the de-
 velopment of the west means their in
 creased prosperity. are contributing
 funds to the National Irrigation asso-
 citation.
 For the enlightenment of Mir. Smith
 We say that at no period of it's history
 has there been a greater need for the
 continuance of visiIant work by the
 National Irrigation association than
 right now.
 As heretofore specified in these col umns. bills are now pending in con gress providing for the repeal of the most important provisions of the national irrigation law. It is pro- posed to deprive the secretary of
 the interior of the power to use the reclamation fund for Ariz- ona- But a few paltry thousands have been obtained from public land sales in Arizona. We are getting the benefit cf millions contributed by states like Washington. Oregon. the Dakotas, Cal ifornia, Colorado and Wyoming. If this new scheme goes through. it will compel the government to expend the funds in the states whence they were obtained. Arizona will be left out in the cold. So will Nevada. So will Utah. to a large extent.
 Back of the scheme there is already organized a determined lobby. One of the most powerful friends of this change in the law is Senator Hans brough. with whom MT. Smith admits he joyousIy co-operated in the irriga- tion committee
 The National Irrigation association is seeking to prevent injurious mon keying with the national irrigation law.
 Even the most hidebound supporter of Mark Smith must admit that in throwing all the influence of his pow erful bureau against the repeal schemes. MT. Maxwell is protecting Arizona's most vital interests.
 And in pointing out to Arizona vOt- CTS that they need 3. A. Fowler in con gress 10 combat the efforts to emaseu- late the national irrigation law, Mir. l Maxwell is doing patriotic duty.
 And beyond that. there remains the great mission of the National Irriga- tion association, yet unfuIhlled.
 The Maxwell doctrine from the first has been that the people should not be compelled to borrow the money | with which the government constructs the reservoirs. He and the National | Irrigation association contend that it is just as much the duty of the gov ernment to make a direct and perma- nent outlay for irrigation works as it is to expend millions on improvements of unimportant creeks and rivers.
 It is the doctrine of the association that the money for which the people have already obligated themselves for reservoirs should be a gift to them from the government.
 Whether this dream will be realized soon enough in the future to help Ariz- ona remains for time to tell. The time was. as our readers know. when The Republican looked upon such men as Maxwell and Fowler as visionary en- thusiasts. But they have made good" and all Arizona and the arid west has justly appIauded them.
 To educate public sentiment to a point where outright expenditure for reservoirs by the government will be approved is the hope of the National Irrigation association. It does not now appear nearly so impossible as did at one time the things already ac- 'omplished by the national irrigation 
 And this is the association which Mark Smith save bas outlix,e5 fife rec .ulness-the association which the great transcontinetaI railways have he wisdom to support
 Within a few days, doubtless. Mark smith will be explaining that J. F. Wilson persuaded him to jump Max gell and that all the blame for the 'lunder should be placed on Wilson.