Arizona republican., 1904-10-16
THE VIEWS OF BUSINESS HEN
An Appreciation of Fir. Fowler by Men
 Familiar With ArizOna's Needs.


 An Appreciation of Fir. Fowler by hen
 Familiar With ArizOna's Needs.
 Mir. B. P. Cheney, the famous Boston capitalist, left for the north yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in com pany with MT. F. M. Murphy on a spe- cial train. MT. Cheney is one of the large stockholders in the Phoenix &, Eastern railway, and is also heavily in- terested in mining enterprises in the territory. His visits to Arizona are made with sufficient frequency to en- able him to keep in close touch with the development which is going on in all parts of the territory, and he ex- presses himself as much pleased with the facts that he learned on this trip.
 Concerning business conditions gen erally in the country MT Cheney stat ed to a Republican representative that he considered the outlook good. Pros perIty is still at a high tide. he said, and the country is in even a better con- dition because of the subsistence of the speculative spirit which was so pro- nounced two or three years ago. There Is nothing to cause disuuiet or lack of confidence in the future in Mir Cheney's opinion. The only thing, he said, which would cause a shock to business confidence throughout the country would be a change in the na- tional administration, but there is no idea entertained in the east that there will be q change While have notfl- ing whatever to do with politics" said Mir Cheney, "I know that the senti- ment of business men. of laboring in terests and of the farmers is in favor of the election of MT. Roosevelt. In fact, to use a western term said Mir. Cheney, everybody seems to think that MT. RooseYelt's election is a 'ciEch.' It is taken for granted quite as much as the coming of Christmas"
 Speaking of politics, what do you think of tho congressional contest in this territory? You are a heavy in- vestor in territorial enterprises and you have doubtless paid some attention to the contest between MT Fowler and MT. Smith?" he was asked. "I have given it only casual attention" MT. Cheney replied. Everybody speaks highly of both MT. Smith and Mir Fowler personally but in travelling around over the territory I have heard the strongest expressions in favor of MT Fowler; Eut, of course, I have met principally the business men and min ing people, you know, and they seem to think it would be wise in view of what Mir. Fowler has accomplished and what he can accomplish, to send him to Washington as the territory's of ficiaI business agent. But please don't talk territorial Y,olitics,' he laughingly protested.
 MT. Murphy was asked how he found the political pulse in the southern part of the territory. ''I was surprised" he replied, "to find such a strong feel ing for Fowler in Cochise county which is generally considered Mark Smiths stronghold But there is really no oc- Casion for surprise to find that the people are beginning to pay some at tention to their own interests. I like Mir. Smith very much indeed, and I think he is a royal good, fellow, but what has he done, or can he do for the territory? He is always handicapped by being in the minority and this or some other reason has enectually pre- vented Arizona from getting any ben eiits from his long service in congress. If, however, his opponent were a poli- ] tician, I should take little interest in the contest, for politicians, be they re- publicans or democrats, can do Arizo- na no good in congress in the way of obtaining substantial benefits for the territory. I have never been intimate ly acquainted with Mir. Fowler, but his record speaks for itself. He is one of the most energetic and resourceful men ever knew, and he has demon strated that his influence in congress is far greater than that of the aver age member. The work he has done in getting the irrigation work started by the government has directly stimulated 1 the construction of railroads, and if Phoenix has the fortune to secure one or more trans-continental lines, it will | be largely due to these irrigation en- 1 terprises. Over on the Colorado river, for example, west of Congress, there is an immense area of public land which the government may be induced to re- claim, and if that project of which the people so far have heard very little, is undertaken it will have a direct bear ing on the future of the lines projected to run west of Phoenix. It is no secret that both the railroads have been closely watching the trend of the irri- gation movement. The people of the territory do not yet begin to appreciate what the future may hold for Arizona in the further development of national irrigation enterprises. None of us at the time appreciated Mir. Fowler's work along these lines until it had i been thoroughly demonstrated that he was on the right track
 As to the election, it is simply a | business matter for the people to con sider Fowler. as a delegate, can be of inestimable service to the territory, and I don't believe my friend Smith l can possibly do anything. And these ] considerations seem to account for MT | FOwIer's great strength in all parts of