The new era., 1909-08-19
CONGRESS OF
|RRIGATI0NISTS
SECRETARY OF THE WATERWAYS
COMMISSION SOUNDS PRAISES
OF JOHN q. ROCKEFELLER.
P|NCH0T IS APPLAUDED
HE uPHoLps ROOSEVELT POLICY
AND SHARPLY ARRAiGNS
WATER TRUST.


Spokane. Wash.-John d. Rockefel-
ler as a philanthropist and as an ex-
ample for the nation to copy was held
up to the kindly consideration of the
National Irrigation Congress Tuesday
afternoon with the advice that the life
Of the oil magnate be studied as q
business ideal.
The newest exponent Of Rockefeller
was DR.. w. ]. MCGEE, secretary Of the
Inland Waterways Commission. OF
Washington. D. C.
DR.. MCGEE frankly said he admired
John D. Rockefeller. He said that
though much sneered at. the president
of the Standard Oil Is a man among
millions and yet, though billionaire he
be. there is no reason why a million
other men cannot be as successful
as he.
DR.. MCGEE was speaking of water as
thing which in value to the human
race in proportion to all other necessi-
ties is as 100 to 1. He urged the con-
servation of water along three lines
power, irrigation and transportation.
And yet" said he with water thus
valuable and necessary to the human
race. John D. Rockefeller charges less
for gallon of oil after 1t has passed
through many processes than a spring
water concern does for q gallon of
mineral water that not been treated in
any way.
Il regard Rockefeller as at once a
generous public benefactor and a wise
and careful business man. He has
had all the opportunity in the world
to exact an exorbitant toll from the
public and yet he charges less for oil
than is paid every day for common
water.
Frankly l admire the man and
say the United States government
could do no better than to profit by
the example Of business man SO
astute and who so well conserves ma
tional resources"
However. this portion OF DR.. Nc
Gees speech did not elicit the ap-
plause that followed his address In
general concerning the conservation
Of natural energy.
Clifford Pinchot, chief forester of
tho United States, caused perhaps the
chief sensation of the day. beginning
with five minutes ovation given him
when he took the rostrum and ended
with a simultaneous ovation and
three cheers and a tiger" when he
ended. He took occasion to denounce
the activities of the water power trust
which. he said. though still in its in
ception. bids fair to overshadow all
other trusts.
He charged that the irrigation con-
gress is being made the tool of cor
porate interests whose agents are be-
ing made members OF important COM
mittees for the purpose of domineer-
ing the activities OF the congress.
And" said he, IT believe l could
point out one genial and urbane gen
tleman, an attorney for the interests.
who is here now"
Pinchot spoke in part as follows:
THE first thing we need in this
country as President Roosevelt SO well
set forth in that great message which
told what he had been trying to do for
the American people, is equality of op-
portunity for every citizen. No man
ask for any more.
ne GiSdl oppressive cAiSt
because of subservient lawmakers and
adroit legal constructions.
There could be no better illustra-
ton Of the eager, rapid. unwearied abb
sorption by capital of the rights which
belong to all the people than the water
power trust, not yet formed, but in
rapid process of formation. This
statement is true. but not unchal-
lenged. We are met at every turn by
the indignant denial Of the water pow
er interests. They tell us that there
is no community Of interest among
them, and yet they appear year after
year at these congresses by their paid
attorneys, asking for your influence
to help them remove the few remain
ing obstacles to their perpetual and
complete absorption OF the remaining
water powers"
Tuesday afternoon the commercial
bodies of Spokane gave parade il
Illustrative of the commercial develop
ment of the Northwest. The parade
passed huge reviewing stand occu-
pied by the delegates. Two other pa
rades of similar character will be
given before the end of the week.
G. A. r. Encampment.
Salt Lake-Colorado claims the