Arizona republican., 1910-03-18
The Presidency of the Water Users
 Association.

forthcoming election by the share holders of the Salt River Valley Water Users association. The Hon. John P. Orme, having been urged by many of his friends to be d candidate, has an- nounced that he will make the race. The Hon. B. A Fowler, the incumbent of the office since its creation ten years ago. although strongly urged by q large number of his friends to be a candidate. is yet undecided, we. un- derstand, because of his reluctance to make contest and because of the fact that if he were to consult solely his personal preferences he would re- tire now with the ten years of splen- did achievement to his credit
 Ordinarily the election of officers by the shareholders of a corporation concerns nobody directly but the shareholders themselves. In this in- stance, however, the Water Users as- - sociation being d corporation which
 
 the valley-this list including also hundreds of residents of the cities of Phoenix. Tempe and Mesa-and the prosperity of the association being so closely bound up with the welfare of the whole community. the choosing of the associations officers and the de-. termination of it's policies are matters which directly interest practically everybody in the valley.
 Most happily, the candidacy of Mir. Orme alone. or the candidacy of both MT. Orme- and MT. Fowler. will not subject the association to any danger of unwise management. MT. Orme is one of our oldest and best citizens, he has always been in accord with the policies which have made the associa ton a success, and if there is to be a contest between him and Mir. Fowler there is no reason whatever why it should not proceed along lines of the utmost good feeling. If arguments in behalf of either suggest themselves to the mutual friends of the two men. there is no reason why these argu ments may not be presented frankly and discussed with all good feeling
 Prompted solely by our understand ing of existing conditions, and hold ing both MT. Orme and Mir. Fowler in warm esteem. we think it worth while to suggest at least three reasons why it would seem well for the sllarehold- CTS to hesitate before deposing MT Fowler in the event of his candi- dacy.
 First-He has made good as presi- dent of the association. Under his presidency not a single vital mistake has been made by the association. If his opponents will analyze their feel ings of opposition they will find that the activity of Mir. Fowler as a public spirited citizen in various other lines has created such sentiments of oppo- sition to him as may exist. No man  can have positive opinions on public issues-or at any rate he cannot pub licly express such opinions-without making enemies
 Second-The important work of the association in it's dealings with the authorities at Washington is by no means finished. Indeed, some of the most vital questions affecting the fu- ture of the association-the time when payments on the reservoir shall be- gin; the possibility of so enlarging the scope of the water storage project that the revenues from power may be made to cut the acreage cost of the reservoir in two, and other matters still dertermined-reInain to be set tied to the advantage of the associa- ton. Mr. Fowler has the confidence of the Washington authorities, and he is familiar with every detail of the association's needs. so that he can promptly answer correctly and satis- factorily any question put to him by busy federal officers, It may be that MT. Orme could do as well-certainly the authorities at Washington would find in him a hardheaded, shrewd and honest farmer. familiar with local conditions-but assuredly. as regards operations at Washington no mistake could be made by retaining MT. Fowler as president As between the two men it would be, simply, question or relative efficiency.
 Third-Mr Fowler is president Of the National Irrigation congress In this congress, representing. two direct ly opposing elements in. the United States are the friends of conservation and the "reactionaries," who inciden- tally are the enemies of the reclama- ton service as now organized The enemies of the reclamation service