Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-22
GOVERNOR CUTLER'S
ADDRESS OF WELCOME

Governor Cutters address was warm
| ly received by the assembled delegates.
| 1t is herewith produced in full:
Mr.. President, Members of the Con-
gress, Ladies and Gentlemen:
In welcoming such a congress as this
to Utah, 1 realize that / am helping
celebrate an epoch making event in the
history of the state, of the arid west,
and of the nation. Utah's first settlers
We're the pioneers of irrigation in
America. With the aid of science and
of the National Irrigation congress and
other agencies, irrigation has been de-
yeloped from crude beginnings into an
exact science; and its benefits have re-
ceived worldwide recognition. So
Utah. in common with other western
states and territories. has number of
pioneers in dry farming. Some of them
are here honored delegates to this
congress. / hope they are all here;
for we may well sit at the feet of such
men an be instructed in the arts by
which they have brought this industry
to the point of excellence 1t has
reached.
/ think we shall soon welcome the
day when from their more or less ex-
perimental efforts. arid farming will
be evolved into as exact and useful a
science as irrigation. This will be ac-
complished by the efforts of this con-
gress and like agencies and with the
aid of the science invoked in the cause
OF irrigation. With this difference:
that dry farming will be of application
on a much larger acreage than irri-
cation can ever hope for
For the initiative in organizing this
congress we are indebted to former
Gov. j. F. Mcdonald of Colorado. 1t
will be a perpetual monument to him,
/ pay him the tribute OF sincere adj
miration for the idea. II Colorado has
- t-t Ia
Utah has the distinction Of furnishing
its first president. I like to see Fisher
Harris mixed UP with dry things
They don't remain dry very long. 1t
is said, although I do not remember
Just now by whose authority, that even
the champagne he serves at CONNER
cial club banduets isn't very dry when
II reaches the guests. And every one
knows that no company he mingles
with and no discussion he engages in
can be dry very long.
is PROUD OF HIM.
We regret very much that he has
sustained q loss OF voice. We hope
the loss is only temporary. But II his
vocal chords are temporarily paralyzed,
we have the best OF evidence from the
splendid preparations he has made for
this congress and the large and repre-
sentative attendance he has secured.
that his good right arm and his brain
are not paralyzed. And though We
miss his silver tongued oratory, we get
the benefit of his unceasing labor.
Ladies and gentlemen, Utah is proud
OF this congress and of Its president.
Coupled with the formation of the
congress is another event equally Inn
portant. ] refer to the formulation and
introduction OF an act in Congress by
Senator Smoot of Utah, proposing such
amendment to the homestead law as
VIII make II possible for thousands of
families to make homes and farms in
what have been thought irredeemable
wastes. / am very much mistaken II
these two events do not prove OF In
calculable value TO the west and to
the nation.
STATES HIS POSITION.
Regarding one Of the subjects that
VIII doubtless come before the Con-
gress. ] wish to make brief state
ment of my position. ] am strongly
IN favor of the preservation of our re-
sources, and I endorse the govern.
nents public land and forest reserve
policies, The fundamental principle in
VolVed Is correct, 1t has developed In
recent conventions that certain in
terests are opposed 10 these policies.
1t ~ a question IN my mind II It Is not
disagreement as 10 some minor de-
tails Of enforcement rather than oppo-
sition 20 the principle of conversation.
II Il should happen that any OF Won
delegates are opposed to these policies,
II may be that by comforting with the
proper officers and getting a thorough
understanding of the motives and the
plans OF the government you can como
10 terms OF agreement and thus re-
move whatever differences there may
be.
Speaking for myself and / think |
speak for the State of Utah as well, !
am thoroughly In sympathy with tho
steps being taken by the government
10 save the public lands Tor home
aeekers and the public range and the
forests for the home-makers and their
children. ! am sure this is the only
object sought by the government. II