The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-12
TOO MUCH TIME IS
 GIVEN ID POLITICS
Southern Congressman Believe
 Time for Reform Is Come
WEST SETS GOOD EXAMPLE
South Needs Development and Has Been Neglected Long Enough Is the Opinion of Many South
 ern Members of Congress.

Washington. December 11.-(Speoial) The opinion is strongly entertained by a number of congressmen from the south in both branches of Congress that too much attention has been given to politics and too little to practical mat ters that are for the agricultural and business development of the section which they represent. These minority statesmen. who are awake to the im- portance of this situation, are pointing to the example of congressman from the great west, who have secured the expenditure of S4S,o00,000 for the reclamation of arid western lands, and who are now asking Congress for a bond issue of s1o.00o,c0o for the ex pansion and continuation of the work of reclamation. These democrats who believe it Is time to take up those things which will promote and better the industrial growth and commercial conditions of the south and south west. want among other things tTe congressman of the south to get to- gether and work actively and hearti- ly for the drainage of the great waste lands in that territory. They have been at work in the past: but they moan to work harder than ever at this session. Never has a dollar been expended by the federal government to reclaim these lands. which can be made even more productive agriculturally than the arid 1on do !, fol, ernment has and is expending such large sums of money.
 Problems of Importance.
 Those democratic congressman who believe that more time sh ould be given to the study and consideration of the problems for the material development of the south and less to politics, would not abandon one iota of principle. They stand for every party tenet. but they believe the time has come for south ern men to seriously consider the so- lution of the drainage and other prob lems that will benefit the south. They regret that the west is far ahead of the south in this respect. Out there, money was derived from the sale of public lands to carry on the reclama- tion work. and the settlers of the irri- gated lands are to return to the gov ernment the money expended. In re- claiming the waste lands of the south this policy cannot be pursued, for the reason that there are no public lands there. The solution of this problem is one that will require much studtous nfFa ,s1 AE west have been made so productive that they sell for as high as s4ooo an acre. There are equally as valuable waste lands in the south and south west. Equally true it is that there is as much if not more reason for drainage than there is for irrigation.
 Land Reclamation
 The problem is one for southern congressman, who have before them the work of the senators and members from the great west and who have al- ready obtained the expenditure of near ly half hundred million dollars in carrying out their reclamation project. As has been said there are congressman from the south who have been at work with this object in view, and who are going to make strenuous efforts to en- list the activities of some of their party colleagues, whose minds have been more i occupied in the past with less practi- cal ideas.
 Interesting in this connection is the fact that in Chicago the government Is taking part in a permanent exhibit for the exploitation of the irrigated lands of the west. This character of exhibit, which is the first even established by tho government, is in charge of a set clement agent of the United States re- clamation service. There are displays of grain, fruit and farm products raised on the irrigated lands and photographs and literature for distribution, which Is a part of the campaign of education for | the settlement of these reclamation lands Stereopticon shows are also given in connection with the exhibit.
 Value of Irrigation.
 This object lesosn of the value of irrigation Is after all land exploitation scheme by the federal government. Think what such an exhibit would mean in New York, St Louis and New Orleans | on products from reclaimed waste lands in the south and southwest. This Chi cago exhibit for the purpose of attract ing settlers to the west IS backed by the government Behind 1t also are the
 
 and the west are very strong in com mercial and industrial way. but then public men and newspapers are pulling together for the development of then country in just such practical undertak- ings as the one here recited. The soutf and the southwest need even more thar does the rich west the assistance anc help of the federal government for th' development of territory and resources which for varied political and industria reasons have been neglected for grea many years. It Is time for the south te wake up and for the southwest to de velcp in a material sense just as th' northwest began many years ago fe at this important period the government steps in with a proposition which VII result in an expenditure of many thous ands of dollars to assist the northwes in a development and in progress which really needs no outside assist ance to the neglect of the south and thu southwest, which at this time more thai at any other and more than any othe section of the country needs all the en couragement and assistance 1t can com mand from all sources.
 The Right Policy.
 There are southern congressman wh believe that the time Is ripe to optail such practical and substantial recogni ton from the government here at Wasn ington. They believe they can best serv their sections by pursuing such pol icy and they are confident that success along these lines is certain to win ia'o and reward at home.
 r. H. Newell, director of the recism a.i~n serviee for the federal govern .ment in spaakinr of the proposed $lV