The San Francisco call., 1905-08-24
BITTER DEBATE
MARKS SESSION
irrigation Congress Clashes
With Officers of Associa-
tion With Similar Name
PLAN UNSATISFACTORY
Members Agree That System
of Converting in Sections
Fails of Desired Results

- 'OON -
Fails of Desired Results
PORTLAND, Aug. 23.-That the plan OF
holding the deliberations of the National
Irrigation Congress in sections initiated
at the instance of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wilson, is a failure seems to be the
consensus OF opinion among the delegates
to the congress, which is now in session
in Portland, and in this view some of the
Government officials who have come here
TO address the sections coincide.
Notwithstanding that there are in Port
land about 1900 accredited delegates to
( the convention, not more than fifty or
seventy-five all told attended the Sec
tional meetings either yesterday or to-
, day. The work of the congress is being
done by the resolutions committee. and
the only interest that has been aroused
since the general session on the opening
day was over the arguments which have
taken place during it's meetings. This
committee has been attended by about
fifty delegates, and the one thousand
others are spending their time in viewing
the fair or visiting different points of in
terest about the city.
Answering a question as to what he
thought of the plan. former Governor L..
B. Prince of New Mexico crystallized the
sentiment which prevails by saying
Think about it: it requires no thought;
it speaks for ITSELF it is a failure"
Another prominent delegate said: The
congresses at Ell Paso and Portland have
been both fizzles But what can we do?
We cannot afford to antagonize the
wishes of the Government, for without
its support we cannot exist and II the
present arrangement continues don't be-
lieve we will be able to exist much long
er with it,
RESOLUTIONS ON STATEHOOD.
Interesting papers were read in the diff
ferent sections before groups running
from five to twenty-five. but with such
sparse attendance 1t is hard for the
speakers to do themselves justice, and
discussion is 1T a minimum.
The resolutions committee, whose ses-
sions have been marked by much stormy
talk held three sessions to-day. Two
hours and a half were consumed at the
morning session in acrimonious disputes
as to the merits of a resolution which
tended to do away with confusion in the
minds of Eastern people, who are, 1t is
said unaware that the National lrriga-
ton Congress and National Irrigation AS
sociation are entirely different organiza-
tions Before the resolution was adopted
the debate at times grew exceedingly
heated, and at one period it resolved IT.
self into a personal attack upon some or
the officials of the irrigation association.
But few resolutions have been adopted
in committee so far, the principal ones
being the Endorsement of separate state
hood for Oklahoma, New Mexico ano
Arizona and one which declares that the
Government should not interfere with or
prevent private enterprise from con-
structing reservoirs for reclamation pur-
poses on the. Rio Grande River in New
Mexico and the Colorado above FL Paso.
BOOTHE REsENTS ATTACK.
The resolutions committee gave most
of its time to the discussion of reso-
luton declaring that there is no connec-
tion between the National Irrigation
Congress and the National Irrigation AS
sociation, an Incorporated body. or
whose board of directors c.. w. Boothe
of Los Angeles, Cal, is chairman. Boothe
is also chairman of the executive COM
nittee of the National Congress.
Assertions were made that large sums
of money have been collected in Chicago
and points in the Central West and in
Montana by the association from man
ufacturers and Others who have con-
tributed to the association as Identical
with or the parent body to the congress.
After the commllJee had discussed the
subject for more than two hours Boothe
was called to the committee-room to ex-
plain what if any connection there ex-
listed between the two organizations.
Boothe was under the impression that
personal attack had been made upon
him. and from the outset resented any
supposed insinuation that there had been
any Misrepresentation by him or by the
association of which he was director.
Personalities were further injected into
the discussion by the reading of an ar
ticle reproduced from the st. Louis Globe
Democrat which, in the opinion of sew
eral of the delegates, left the impression
that Boothe was allowing his name to
be connected with the two organizations
in a manner that brought inevitable con-
fusion. 1t was stated by Boothe-and in
his statement he was substantiated by
committee members who had not before
asserted themselves on the subject-that,
while not connected with the congress,
the association had promoted the con-
gress; and he stated that during the last
four years no change had taken place
without the financial and moral support
of the association.
A substitute resolution by Senator Car
ter of Montana stating that the National
Irrigation Congress never had and never
will have any connection with the Ma
tional Irrigation Association was adopt
ed Dy the cOHliitteS.
The committee on nominations
named the following officers for the en-
suing year: Governor George c. Par
dee of California dncumbent), presi-
dent; L. w. Shurtliff of Utah, first
vice president; Congressman j. H.
Stevens of Texas. second vice presi-
dent; f. l.. Smith GncumbenD of
Oregon, third vice president; III. B.
Maxon of Nevada, secretary.
MI. y,nf 90, a
subject of the next meeting place, leav-
ing that to be fought out on the floor
of the convention tomorrow. The ri
val candidates for the distinction are
Denver and Boise, Idaho.
an audience with the Emperor at
peterhof this afternoon which lasted
two hours Presumably the matter of
neace was discussed at length, but