Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-09-18
WESTERN FAVOR
FOR TAFT
Republican Policy Father of the
Arid Region.
Home Owners and a High State Of
Civilization Go Hand in Hand.

The West has at all times furnished
dhc strongest backing to President
Roosevelt and the West turned first
to Judge Taft as his logical successor.
Taft is the chosen leader of that party
OF Initiative and construction which,
DAY its policies, has populated the coun
try, connected our two coasts with
bands OF steel and has opened the door
OF opportunity TO every citizen of tue
republic. The Republican party from
its birth has been a party of home
steads for the people. 1t has enacted
and enforced the laws, permitting each
adult citizen OF the United States to
establish his own home and roof tree
at a mere nominal cost.
Uncle sam and Home Owners
When good homesteadS began 70 grow
scarce and corporations. by double deal
irg, had largely usurped the birthright
of lie Individual, the party Of freedom
and justice began TO look into the ques-
ton of retaining the arid West. 1t
decided to flank the subtle movements
of land ~monopolists and to practically
create 4 new heaven and q new earth"
for the builder Of homes. upon which
rests the cornerstone of the republic.
Uncle Sam owned the whole arid re-
gioi-- practically fifteen hundred miles
s1uarc-and he owned the water supply
too. Through the Republican party, he
decided to bring the water to the land,
aud by this union to make possible a
Ueasurcless bounty for the present and
future generations. The Republican
iiarty passed the National Irrigation
Act which became a law in June, 1902,
authorizing the government TO enter
upon this work OF retaining arid
Amer lea. The semi-arid region extends
over North Dakota, South Dakota,
Western Nebraska and Western Kansas
In to Oklahoma and the panhandle OF
Texas.
Taft and the West.
In this area the home building policy
OF the Republican party is to perfect
cne Of the greatest experiments OF
civilization. Mr.. Taft is thoroughly
familiar with conditions here and loves
the West. His prescient vision Of the
great destiny of the republic is preg-
Raut with Titanic achievement for this
future garden spot of the world. lie
knows tie sources of the western water
supply, He is the stalwart repres-a-
tatire OF the party that is busy win
the conservation Of the natural ~
sources of our country, and what section
of OUR land is to be half so mucn beI,p.
fitted by this promising movement as the
arid region?
Homes and Independence.
On the tillage Of the soil rests the
prosperity Of all other industries. Upon
the uphuilding of homes rests the in
dependence of the nation. Irrigation
and conservation, encourages small!
holdings and increases the number Of
those who call no man master. These
two Republican policies have a bourd-
less potency for civilization. On the
desert sands of Egypt they were instru-
mcutal il. rearing the mightiest empire
of ancient days. In India they are to
day rerivifying and modernlzing a
wasted land. In America their mission
is but beginning, yet it gives promise
OF untold blessings to man.
Possibilities of Electric Energy.
One Of the most valuable assets that
Us to come to the arid region through
the policy of the Republican party, will
be the vast electric energy possible by
Harvesting the mountain streams. They
will thus not only give life to the
try. but through power generated, will
inject into that life the greatest pos
sible useful activities. In the arid re-
gion multiplied millions of horsepower
can be created through the natural
gravity system of water. There are
hundreds Of valleys ranging in length
from a few miles to nearly one
thousand miles where ample water
can be had for all power pur-
poses. as well as for heat and
light. SO when the life-giving fluid is
applied TO the parched plains and the
desert is transformed into the orchard.
the water then furnishes the source of
energy for mill, factory, electric plants
for lighting and heating and all posi-
Die mechanical devices
Perhaps ut 10 other point on the
earth's surface are such combinations
possible to such a degree of utility.
Having the climate, the scenery the
soil. the sunshine. the water. the tim
Der. the minerals Of all kinds, the
stone. and in fact all of the products
of the earth, both from its surface and
from its bowels SO readily at hand,
here i the western portion of America
is destined to be wrought not only the
highest civilization. but the highest