The Irish standard., 1909-08-14
RECLAMATION NOT FOR POOR
MAN, sEcRETARY TELLS lR.
RlGATioN CONGRESS.
SAYS He ACTED WITHIN THE LAW
Private Interests Take Over Work the
Government Cannot Do-Former
Governor Pardee FIereeIy A..
raions 6aIIinger for Stand

spokane, wash, Aug. lZ.-The Bal
linger.Pinchot contest burst upon the
national irrigation congress when DR..
George c. Pardee. former governor Of
California, attacked Richard A. Bal
linger. secretary Of the interior.
Mr.. Ballinger entered the Audito-
rum, surrounded by reception COM
mittee, and when he arose to speak
he was cheered for several minutes.
He read paper on his ideas of re-
clamation and the public domain. He
contended that what has been done by
the secretary Of the interior was i'm.
dor the law. His speech in part fol.
lows: r...
While the government has invested
over $90,000,00o in irrigation works.
many times that amount has been in
vested since the passage Of the re.
clamation act by private enterprise,
and 1t is safe to say that large por-
ton Of these private investments have
resulted from governmental example
and encouragement, and let me say
here that it has not been and is not
the policy Of the national government
in the administration of this act to
hinder or interfere with the invest.
ment Of private capital in the con.
struction of irrigation works, but
rather to lend 1t encouragement.
Not for Poor Man.
The reclamation act is beneficenL
one. 1t differs, however, from the
simple homestead law in that it holds
out inducements only to men Of suf-
ficient authority and capacity to car.
ry the added burdens of construction,
maintenance and operation, which is
the cost Of the lands. While it Is pos
sible that persons of limited means
may successfully enter and acquire ir.
rigated lands, it will generally be
found that it is not poor mans prop.
osition, unless coupled. with intelli.
gent, industry In agriculture.
The danger which the government
IL undertaking to overcome is the es.
tablishing Of small irrigation projects
in localities where by such establish
ment. their larger opportunities are
destroyed thus preventing enormous
areas of lands from ever acquiring the
use Of water. For lack Of funds the
government Is at present often requir.
ed to surrender possibilities in water
appropriations which means an enor-
nous loss In future development Of
irrigation works and fear this 10 not
fully appreciated. 1t Is for this rea-
sou that at times private enterprises
are disposed to contend that the gov
eminent is obstructing their interests
while from the larger view their in
terests are obstructing greater pos
sibilities for larger areas of irrigation
lands. 80
Former Governor Pardee took the
platform to deliver the address under
the subject assigned to him. But he
had no use for his manuscript. He
opened by saying that he was for
Roosevelt and the Roosevelt policies.
Roosevelt Did ThInes."
Roosevelt was a president who did
things. first" said he, "and talked
about them afterward and that's the
kind of men we would like to see in
public Office now.
The thing to do is to withdraw the
water-power sites, as did Roosevelt,
and hold them for the people.
When" pleaded DR.. Pardee, "are
we ever going to have chance for
the common hard working citizen?
Secretary Ballinger has said irrigation
is not a proposition for poor man.
take issue with him and say it is par
ticularly poor mans proposition and
If there is anyone trying to make 1t
| not so, let's find out about it,