Arizona republican., 1910-11-30
THE CONVENTION SHED.
A Persistent and Fatal Prejudice
 Was Endangered.

The unexpected happened in the afternoon, a fierce fight over the ir- rigation proposition resulting in it's indefinite postponement when it was not supposed that the slightest op- position to it would offer. The prop osition was brought in the day be- fore by the committee on agriculture in response to a direction to the com mittee on Saturday after the defeat of 66. In that direction. the com mittee had been instructed to pro- vide for a recognition of the existing laws and rights.
 But in the proposition reported on Monday. the committee had provided for more than that. It had also de- clared forever against the common law doctrine of riparian rights and had declared that the waters of streams. rivers and creeks should be public property.
 Though the committee had exceeded its instructions. there might have been no trouble except for a little thing that needlessly aroused sus- picion. The proposition had been reported as a substitute for 66 which had already been killed. At the op- ening of the afternoon session. be- fore all of the members were in their seats. a motion was made to change the number of the proposition to 1i9. People as well as horses and the lower animals shy at things they do not understand
 Therefore when the convention went into the committee of the whole with Dr. Moeur in the chair there were natural inquiries as to why this change had been made. In the confusion of the committee it could not be explained so that all would understand and the feeling of hostility against the bill increased moment by moment.
 MT. Kingan offered a substitute for the whole propositions: "All existing rights for the use of water in this state for all useful and beneficial purposes are hereby recognized and confirmed"
 Conservation Wanted.
 The committee was in a temper to accept the substitute when Judge Baker explained why the committee on agriculture was so desirious of securing a declaration against the
 
 it had never obtained here and would probably never do so. conditions might arise in which it's adoption would be sought great corpora tion might obtain possession of a large tract of land and an attempt might then be made to supersede the system of priority rights. Besides. said Judge Baker. what was now sought was in line with the national for the conservation of water resources.
 Mir. Parsons said he would oppose the proposition for the very reasons which Judge Baker had offered in it's favor A time might come. he could not see how but we cannot see the future. when the doc trine of riparian rights would be best for Arizona. Tn the meantime let matters rest as they are in the stat utcs and judicial decisions
 The Kingan amendment then went to a vote and was lost. The propo- sition was then mutilated but Judge f:ak6r succeeded n securing the 1 ct the following: "The com | mon law 6"tIrine of riparian rights | shall not obtain or be of any force ! pr cffec; in this state"
 Then on thc motion of Judge Bak | ar, an amendment in almost the eX- act langus ge of the Kingan substi ! ute was added as section ?. Then | Julge Baker succeeded in adding i section 2 as follows: The waters of | every river. creek or running stream i Jf this s:ate are hereby declared to | I'.. public property"
 The Last Straw.
 MT Colter then offered d fourth | section, entirely harmless but it | proved the last straw on the camers ! back and the proposition which had | beer increasing like a snowfall roll ng down hill. went out suddenly on ! motion to r.'s,pone indefinitely.
 MT. orme -oughout the debate had appealed to the convention in be- lals C: the ft trmers of the valleys He pointed cut that what they want ,d was taklre nothing from any Inc appeals. Mir Feeney reminded .lr. Ormc tna: he and the other 'arlncr dclt IS les Lao not stood onsthe tide vf labor throughout the con- rcntu.n
 Aftcr thc cf 9tc on lrrlgaJOn was ,ver. Mir. Orme rose to a question of privilege in which he said hat before Mir. Feeney was born he lad performed more labor than that 'oung man had since done or would To before he died. He added that he lad always been a laboring man and hat he was friendly to labor but not O radicalism. Moreover. in his vot- ng he hal fulfilled his pledges to his and had satisfied his 'wn conscience.
 MT. Winsor nCyed the appointment f a special Ctn;r'ittee to prepare an- .ther irrigation bill along the lines uggested fr the first instructions. Judge Baker si eeested that out of 'ourtesy tn the agricultural commit co is sho.'id fe directed tO prepare ,,,b hin WinSnr aOrpad