Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-11-20

come and gone with nothing but hope
to support their energies and sustain
their faith in the ultimate triumph of
their cause.
Mr.. lsenberg states that after get
ting water some time in June, 1907,
that no adequate supply was received
for the entire season except once or
twice when something broke loose
about the irrigation works and water
poured through in abundance for the
time being, and that the water was
never high enough in the canals to
properly overflow into the latterals and
rise high enough to fill the bitches of
the farmers so that they could get it
on their lands. Like many others on
the tract Mr.. Isenberg raised some
crops on his claim without water for
irrigation and he states that the only
difference in the grain raised on dry
land and that raised on land receiving
some water from the government
bitches was that the berries on the
watered land were trifie plumper
than the others. And he gives it as
his opinion that he would have been
better off if no water had been pro-
missed by the government for the
season of 1907 and no attempt made to
supply it.
The case, of Mr.. Isenberg is as others
excepting that he is better off and was
better served by the Reclamation Ser
vice than were many of his neighbors.
The majority of them have had year
longer to wait for their water than he
has. But few, if any, were served
better than he was and his case may be
taken as typical of all. There is no
manner of doubt that all would have
been better off if no water had been
promised by the Service for the season
of 1907 and no attempt made to turn it
on the land.
But Garfield says that water was
furnished the settlers for the season Of
1907 and what he says goes while the
dictum stands unreversed no matter if
it controverts a law duly passed by
and signed by the President of
the United States. The letter the law
may have been fulfilled but no one will /
claim that the spirit was.
But some may claim that the settlers
had abundance of warning that this un-
just ruling was coming and that they
should have been prepared to meet it. (
But such is not the case. These set 4
tiers have been expecting fair, just
and reasonable treatment from the
Reclamation Service and the general
in this matter. They
could not believe that any sueu ruling
would be made after departmental
officer of the government had once
looked carefully into the matter and
they worked and waited in hope that
Justice would be accorded them. The
present season has been most unfavOr-
able to many of them, if not all. The
cold backward spring was accompanied
DN ulSH MiuuS lldl bl6W tilS sttu Oul
Of the ground after it was planted.
The water supply was spasmodic and
for the successful raising
Of crops. They were Handicapped from
the start of the season by the long
lrain on their resources waiting for
water that never came during the
years since they took their claims.
But they struggled on as best they
could, working without means adequ-
lte to meet their many necessities, and
making the best use. possible of the
scant and unreliable water supply fur
lished by the Reclamation Service. and
hoping through it all that the rulings of
he department would not be turned
against them to turn them out of
heir homes aud deprive them of years
If toll and turn to nought the years of
deprivation and suffering they had un-
iergone on the Minidoka project.
But as far as Mr. Garfield is concerned
hose who can not raise the money by
he first of next December will be
.urned out of their homes without re
sources and without hope. And his
word is law while it remains unre-
-ersed. There is practically no remedy
or the settlers. They are poor and
here is no assurance that they can Sc
.ure hearing in court. Senator Borah {
assured them during the campaign just
passed that something should be done !
or them, but the question arises has I
wen Senator of the United States
my power to give relief from the !
rbitary and unjust rulings of Mr.. Gar |
ield. 1t must be remembered that
his is not the first time that the rights ,
# individuals have been trampled down
" departmental rulings that take the
lace of law to ali intents and purposes.
1t might be claimed that these poor \
'eople have not much to loose and that
hey might be better off to lose their ,
laims Mr.. Isenberg was heard to re-
mark recently that ne would not take I
i've thousand dollars for his claim and
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