, 1904-07-14
A VERY ROTTEN PLANK.

~ ~ !
ton of the arid lands of the West-a
measure framed by a Democrat, pas
sed in the senate by IA non.partisan
vote and passed in the house against
the opposition of almost all the Re
publican leaders by IA vote the major
ity of which was Democratic.
We call attention to this great
Democratic measure, broad and com
prehensive as it is, working automat.
ically throughout all time without
further action of congress until the
reclamation of all the lands in the
arid west capable of reclamation is
Accomplished, reserviug the lands re-
claimed for homeseekers in small
tracts, and rigidly guarding against
land monopoly, as an evidence of the
policy of domestic development con
templated by the Democratic party,
should it be placed in power.'-Dem-
ocratic Platform.
In reference to the above, the
Leader submits the following which
it challenges anyone to dispute. The
first move III connection with pro
posed irrigation reservoirs was made
by Senator Warren of Wyoming. i'm
mediately on his return to the Senate
in 1895, when he introduced an
amendment to the River and Harbor
bill, appropriating $4,000 for the
survey Of at least one reservoir site in
Colorado and for the same in Wyom-
ing. The bill was vetoed by Presi-
dent Cleveland but the western men
dubbed together to pass it over the
head of Cleveland because Of this
fact.
Two or three years later, the Sen
ate was held up all night in a fight
on the Piney Reservoir amendments,
pursuant to the Chittenden survey.
This was when the River and Harbor
bill came near being talked to death
all one night by Senator Warren,
who, however, was forced to desist in
order that important war appropria-
ton might be passed. Two years lat
er Senator Tom Carter and others
killed the River and Harbor bill by
talking against time all one night,
because the Senate had stricken out
the Warren amendments.
President Roosevelt next took the
matter up in his message, advising
the creation of reservoirs. Numer-
GUS bills were then introduced by
various parties in both Houses. In
the meantime the Nebraska people
held IA meeting in Omaha during the
summer preceding the Roosevelt
message to which Wyoming sent a
delegation. The conference was an
interesting one but nothing definite
vas accomplished, and an adjourn
ment was taken TO Cheyenne where "A
meeting was held in September. AT
the latter gathering, representatives
from Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming
and elsewhere, We're present and it
was decided to issue a call for a
meeting in Washington on the night
before the opening of Congress. Con
gresham Burgett was secretary of
the meeting, and arranged for the
conference at Washington. In this
organization Senator Warren. was
chosen chairman of the volunteer
committee which was to conduct the
irrigation campaign. This commit
Tee csnsisted Of either IA Senator or IL
Congressman from each of the sever
arid or semi-arid states, Mr.. Mondell
being the member from Wyoming
besides the chairman, MIR. Warren.
Meetings were held every night un-
til after the first of the year-a peri
cd Of six weeks or so. The bills iu-
troduced by marlborough, Newlands
and others We're considered and "A
new bill Was formulated by the com
mlttee. No man claimed the bill iu-
dividually or had a right to. The
volunteer committee ordered Senator
marlborough, Chairman of the Com.
mittee on Public Lands, to introduce
the bill in the Senate while Mr.. Mon.
dell, member Of the committee on
Public Lands and Arid Lands, Was
to have charge Of it in the House.
The bill so formulated and so handl
ed by the committee passed the
House with slight amendments and
the House bill passed the Senate
without being changed.
If the rest Of the Democratic plat.
form is formed of such rotten mater,
ial as the irrigation plank, the struc
ture viii! hardly stand the stormy
campaign which is now approaching.
Cheyenne Leader.