The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-04
ROOSEVELT POLICIES
WILL Be THEME
NATIONAL FORESTRY AND REC.
LAMaTIoN WORK TO BE DIS
cuSsED AT CONGRESS.

Spokane, Aug. 3-Supporterx ana op-
poneats of the Roosevelt policies per-
tanning to national forestry and recIa-
matton work Will draw lines sharply
at the meeting of the National frriga-
tion congress. which viii have its sew
enteenth sessions here during the week
beginning August 2. Their, il already
every indication that the movement,
which began with the pus&ag" of the
reclamation act of 1902 will be at
tackled from all sides under the gugse
of economy, the chief argument being
there Is nothing which juStineS the
continuance Of So broad policy Of
public Improvement.
Friends OF the movement in the west
and southwest. where the beneficial
effects of tho irrigation projects are in
evidence. point Ia the fact that while
the work is comparatively new and
largely experimental the reclamation
service has not the record of a single
failure in the numerous plants under
taken and involving total expendi-
ture of si2.o0d.00h. They are marshall
ling their forces and will resist any at
sale overthrowai Of the policies en-
acted by Secretary Garfield.
That the acute stage has been
reached is evidenced by an authorized
statement by Arthur Hooker. secre-
tary Of the board of control, as fol-
lows:
Many indications point To the fact
that this is a critical time in the his
tory of the National Irrigation con-
greSs. and, indeed. in the history of
the national irrigation movement In
fact, the same thing may be said con-
corning the principles for which this
organization stands: The preservation
Of our forests. the storage of the
floods, the reclamation of the forests
and the home building of the nation.
Policies on Trial.
THAT the Roosevelt policies will be
on trial ut the coming sessions is a
conclusion reached from Il consfdera-
ton of the events that have become
history since the last meeting of this
body. The supporters of the national
irrigation movement began to see the
realization of their hopes in the pas
sage Of the reclamation act I'm 1902
and under the leadership of the father
of irrigation the work has been pro-
crossing the last seven years.
The searChlight Of criticism is now
turned upon the plans formulated and
the policies established. Those who
have followed closely the course of
events in the last few months foresee
will
meet at most opportune. though the
most critical. period since its organi-
cation.
Some Of the attacks on the former
administrations policies viii raise
these questions: t.
Have they fulfilled the hopes Of
those who have been responsible for
their existence? Are they making a
richer. happier. better land: n more
prosperous and contented people
throughout that vast area once labeled
The Great American DESERT Are
they worthy of that support and en-
dorsement necessary to insure con-
tinued progress along the lines on
which work is already progressing ?
or have the governments efforts in
taiiN hiiNaiisH netH at IuuIt hittSSt =
tating change i'm the activities of
those bureaus of the government to
which this work has been entrusted?
Depends on Activity.
What the result will be depends en-
tirely upon the activity of the friends
of the policies which have in the past
received the endorsement of this body
1T Is predicted that this phase
alone will make the congress famous.
and there are many indications that
its action on the foregoing questions.
coming at the time ii does. will make
the seventeenth sessions of the Ma
tional Irrigation congress not only the
most noted in its history. but the most
momentous in results. No other inter-
probation can be put upon the wide
spread national interest manifested and
the Importance which In being at
tached To this organization.
"0ther questions which will come be
fore the congress in a striking manner
are:
Shall the government policies re-
ceive the endorsement of this congress.
or shall material changes in them be
demanded? Is this great national
movement of providing homes for mil
lions of our people To continue or is it