The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-25
Retiring President of Trans
mississippi Commercial Con-
greSs in the City.
ALREADY MENTIONED FOR
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR
Distinguished Party Is Enter
tanned at the Commercial
Club by Gov. Cutler.

j. b. Case Of Abilene. Kan, retiring
president Of the Trans Mississippi Com
mcrcial congress, arrived in this city
on his way home from San Francisco
Saturday afternoon, and registered at
the Kenyon. While in the California
city Mr. Case presided over the nine
teenth apnual session Of that orgaui-
zation. One OF the prominent topics
of discussion at the congress was ad-
yocacy of the selection Of the next
Secretary of tho Interior from the
Trans Mississippi states, where practi-
cally all his work lies.
Mr.. Case received n fattering boom
on tho coast for the appointment If
Taft is elected. When asked about il,
he said: "Of course TO man would
refuse such an honor but whether or
not [ am selected, do believe that the
next President can add greatly. to the
strength of his administration by Civ
ing the West that place in his cabinet,
which should be filed by man fa-
mlliar with the history and needs Of the
Western states.'
Mr.. Case is accompanied by Hon. J.
W. Creech, chairman of the ways and
means committee Of the Kansas Legis-
lature, an executive officer of the com.
mercial congress; c, NJ. Harger. editor
of the Abilene (Kan.) Daily Reflector,
and Mrs. Case. The party has been
touring California for two weeks, and
came hero from Los Angeles.
This trip has not been one without
personal inspection of what is being
done in irrigation and reclamation. y
said Mr.. Case. ave have visited near
" all the great projects of the
Of yet greater effort on the part of
the government in the interest Of the
settler. Millions of acres could be
made fertile farms with the expendi-
ture Of money in conserving tho water
that is now wasted Great as ii is, the
accomplishment OF today is but the be-
ginning.
What Government Should Do.
'The time will come when every
drop of water that falls on the Western
states will be utilized in fertility. I
believe the government should spend
S5OO,OGO, 900 ms rapidly as il can be
utilized in reclamation work. giving the
settler more liberal terms than at pres
ent II could well afford to allow him
five years before he pays anything, and
then ten years in which to pay his debt
IN installments, without interest.
What is needed in the Western states
Is meu-the high class of settlers that
transform n desert into farms-and it
Is the greatest thing this government
can do to bring this condition about.
Utah has homes for million more
families if its mountain waters can all
be conserved. and the possibilities Of
the state are unlimited An area of
wonderful agricultural development in
the West is at hand and it will be
FASTENED by co-o- alton. harmonious
effort on the part Western people,
regardless Of politics, TO bring greater
recognition of our needs and opportuni.
ties -
The members Of the party were
guests of Gov. John G. Cutler at the
Commercial club at an informal dinner
evening.
The dinner was followed by recep-
ton, at which officers of the CONNER.
clal club were present. Arrangements
may be made for Prof. Harger, who
has charge OF the school Of journalism
at the University Of Kansas, to speak
on the subject Of journalism at the Uni.
versity of Utah. To do this it will be
necessary for Prof. Harger TO remain
over a day. Mr.. Case will leave for
home Sunday night.