Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1908-10-31
Irrigation Plan Is Democratic

ultimately vested in large numbers
of small proprietors, upon terms just
to the nation and regardful of the
self respect of the individual.
RECLAMATION ACT A MODEL.
How much better is such legisla-
ton than the old form of legislation
which would have regarded private
capital as the only means of conduct
ing such enterprises, and which
would have resulted in the disposal
of vast areas of arid lands to great
corporations for the purpose of facili-
tating them in the construction of
storage and canal projects necessary
for their reclamation.
The successful administration of
the reclamation act, now apparently
assured, will be an object-lesson to
the people of much that can be &C.
compIished by the nation which has
hitherto been entrusted to private en-
terprise. 1t will encourage the spirit
of cooperation through nationai ac-
ton, as opposed to the spirit of COM
bination through individual action.
The nation will retain the
wealth it now owns, and will admin
ter it wisely in The interest OF all.
The modern tendency towards COM
bination and consolidation, which
has drifted the anthracite coal fields
into the hands of a few corporations
and which has led to the gradual
consolidation of the bituminous coal
fields and of the great iron deposits
of the West, formerly part Of the
public domain and belonging to the
whole people, will be checked. Not
only will our future policy tend to-
wards the division of government
lands into small farms for individual
homeseekers, but the great timber
reserves, the coal reserves, and iron
reserves, now constituting par. ct
the public domain VII lie held by
all the people for all he people.
A MOVEMENT TOWARD MORE
COOPERATION
All this means the gradual adapta-
ton of what is wisest and best in
the new social theories that are now
attracting so much attention.
1t will mean the destruction Of pri-
vate monopoly by a wise compromise
between Individualism and Collectiv-
ism. 1t will mean that the people
will not long endure the ownership
of the great steel highways of the
country by private corporations, IL
they become convinced that equality
of service or reasonableness of rates
cannot be secured so iolg as privats
interest collects the toll. 1t viii
mean that just as foreign commerce
is to be promoted by such govern
ment undertakings as the Panama
Canal, so domestic commerce will be
promoted by governmental improve
meLt of our water ways The
spirit of cooperation will gradually
concentrate the whole machinery OF
t, ansportation whether by water or
by rail, in the ownership of great
corporations. and then If private
greed makes equality and reasonable
ness Of service impossible in govern
ment ownership itself = We are
on the eve of great movements in
tended for the advancement of man
The public service will constantly IN
grove, the public servant will advonce
in efficiency, in disinterestedne,
and in patriotic integrity. The gov
eminent will not be simply a ma
chine to administer; and the con-
stantly increasing intelligence OF the
voters of the country will see to IT
that such administration of govern
ment by all the people will be for
the best interests of all the people.