, 1907-11-01

ne no hetter on nan II the Stare
were n dead level and had no water
ialls. because, under such circum
stances, the people will have to pay
for electric lights and other forms of
electric energy just what 1t would cost
to produce a competing power from
coal.
Hence | believe" continued the gov.
ernor. that rights should not be grant,
ed except under some form of regula-
ton. But as a friend writes me, the
presidents policy involves more than
the mere question of conserving natu.
raj resources. If this were the only
object to be accomplished the president
could promote this SO far Is water is
concerned by urging the states to en-
act good laws and his influence would
he potent.
But the president seems commit
ted 10 the idea of accomplishing ol,
reforms through federal agencies. This
$ not surprising since most of his ad.
~visers, being Washington officials, prob
ably advise using the agencies they di.
rect. The result of his inactivity,
therefore, from a Wyoming standpoint.
is to lessen interest in state reforms
and state appreciation of good work
by home officials"
What Is Wyoming doing along this
'ine?" was asked the governor.
THE lime light is all on the nation.
Al stage" replied Governor Brooks.
1.-The idea seems to be hat reforms
and good policies are not to be strus
gled for at home; simply back VI the
president and let him do the work W.
ought to do ourselves. l think this
plan is being carried too far. Local
reforms ought to be left to the virtue
and patriotism of the individual state
irrigation and drainage essentially are
local matters, 1t Is for the people
who use the water to say how 1t shall
be conserved and controlled.
ITO say that the state cannot or
will not do the right thing in these
matters IS disproyed by what Wyo'
ming is doing in irrigation and what
Illinois is doing in drainage. 1t is 10
say in effect tnat self-government is a
failure and 1t must be replaced by bu'
reaucratic control, whereas the facts
aer that the federal government is to
day n great, unwieldly, badly organized
machine and that some of the worst
abuses of recent years in the manage
name of natural resources rave been III
federal bureaus.
To-day the men who are doing most
for the agricultural development OF
the west and who know most abou,
western conditions, do not receive The
recognition and credit they deserve
because popular attention is directed
toward what the national government
is doing.
Zone would think from what he
reads in the eastern press that, so far
as irrigation Is concerned, the recla'
nation service of the federal govern,
ment is all there is, and any crit
cism of it's work must be based on
sinister motives, and any praise oi
any other agency, a matter for invest,
cation.
The fact is that the state engineers
in Wyoming, Nebraska and Idaho are
contributing as much to irrigation de
velopment and to the solution of the
real water problem of the west as any
set of men in the federal service, yet
they get little, if any recognition out
side the field of their own immediate
section OF the country.
Il believe" held Governor Brooks
'+thut there viii be d general tendency
on the part of the states to claim recos
milton for what they are achieving and
to stand for a clear field in matters
that belong properly to local and state
control"
What does the west think of Presi
dent ROOSEVELT"
The west is strongly favorable 20
the president and his policies on the
broad ground that he is close to the
people and is doing the best that &c
can for the whole country. There
may be some differences of opinion as
to methods of carrying out some OF
these ideas, as l have intimated, with
reference to the conservation Of water
power. But Roosevelt is strongly in.
trenched in the hearts and esteem OF
the western people. They know him
personally and believe in him.
1--WE in Wyoming take him at his
word and do not believe that he viii
be the. next republican presidential
nominee. We desire a president, how
ever, who will follow up the %enuncia,
tons of policy made by President
Roosevelt and we want a Roosevelt
man."
who does that man seem to be-"
Secretary of War Taft fills the bill
admirably, according to indications as
| have seen them, not only in Wyo
ming, but all through the west. | be-
lieve that SECRETARY Taft should be the
nominee, and he would sweep Wyo
ming, l am certain"
What do you hear about Mr.. Bryan
in the west?"
Former Governor Osborne of my
state, of course, is a very close per,
sonal friend of Mr.. Bryan, and | am
informed hat the Wyoming delega-
ton to the democratic national conven.
ton is counted upon as safely and SURE.
.ly for Mr.. Bryan. That is to be eX