The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-01
STATEMENT BY MEssRs. WooLD.
RIDGE AND MITCHELL,
A REPUTATION OF SMYTHE
Democratic Speaker Not Cooperating
With National Irrigation Asso-
ciation-it Knows No Party.

S
Impressions and beliefs
may be formed and that exact justice
may be done to all, Messrs. Woold'
ridge and Mitchell, who are now do.
ing special work in the state in the
cause of national irrigation,
have deemed it advisable to
They wish it to be distinctly under.
stood that the National Irrigation as
s%ociation is a non-partisan organiza-
ton and that any man or set of men
who may be working in the interest
of any political party and who claim
to be acting in cooperation with the
National Irrigation association do SO
under false pretense. Because OF the
shameless manner in which the name
OF the association has been employed
in connection with at least one demo-
cratic speaker these gentlemen have
found it necessary to mention him
directly.
The statement OF the secretary and
the member OF the executive council
of the association is herewith ap-
pended:
Strictly Non-Partisan.
THE political controversy which
exists regarding the authorship and
passage of the national irrigation act
has apparently in the minds OF some
people become involved and confused
with the work which is being done at
this time in Montana by the National
Irrigation association, looking to an
organization OF Montana's business
interests for a broad movement to
reclaim every irrigable acre in the
state. A word as to the past and
present attitude OF the National IrrI-
cation association may be pertinent
at this time. The National Irrigation
association has been and is a strictly
non-partisan organization. Its mem
bers and its officers comprise both re-
publicans and democrats. 1t has and
does welcome the support and effort
OF both republicans and democrats.
Perhaps it is to be deplored some
what that the exigencies OF the pres
ent campaign have brought the ma
tional irrigation question into the
arena of politics. 1t was, during the
tendency OF the bill in congress, con-
sidered and KEEP a non-partisan mea-
sure. 1t was held above party poll
tics.
Smythe's False Pretenses.
"The statement has been made that
William E. Smythe is working AMI
speaking in this campaign in co-opera-
ton with and under the National Irri-
cation association. Mr.. Smythe is
working under the democratic nation
al committee and has nothing what
ever to do with, nor no connection,
direct or indirect, with the National
Irrigation association, nor has he
ave been officially connected with
that organization. He was the organ
izer Of the first national irrigation
congress, some IA years ago. This
body usually meets once a year; it
has no connection with the National
Irrigation association, which has a
membership of some 5000 business
men and others, and whose work is
continued for IL months in the year.
MI. Smythe has made OF the national
irrigation question, in his irrigation
pamphlet, issued as a document by the
democratic national committee, in his
orations from the stump and in his
newspaper articles being scattered
broadcast through the country by the
democratic press bureau, a strictly
partisan question.
Credit Where Deserved.
o the merits OF his argument, OF
the ground for the statements and
claims made by the representatives
of either of the political parties, the
National Irrigation association has
nothing to say nor no comment to
make. Its executive chairman, Geo.
H. Maxwell, nor any of it's ifficers,
have given utterance to any sentiment
on the subject, nor will they do so.
The official publications OF the asso-
citation, the Talisman and the National
HOmemaker, at the time of the pen
dency and passage OF the act, and
since. have given full measure OF
praise and credit to President Roose.
welt, and full credit to every republic
can and to every democrat who work
ed for and assisted in the passage
OF the bill, and they did not hesitate
to criticise those who both openly
and secretly opposed it.