Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-30
BECOMING CONVERTED.

10 SellltTo oh Ndicy hCI pIOJcClS
throughout Idaho to note the many
conversions that are taking place in
the state relative to the rights of the
settlers on these projects. Converts
to the cause OF the settlers are now
found among some of the leading
papers of the state, as also among
members Of the land board and state
officials. Even the News, of this
place, which has always been
most hearty supporter of the tactics
being pursued by the irrigation COM
panies, is forced to admit editorially
in referring to the recent court ca
ses, that the settlers on this tract
were right, in some of their conten-
tions at least. 1t says:
" The determination of the ca
ses is important to all Carey act settlers
and companies-t clears up number OF
questions that have been vexatious in
The extreme. The duties of Carey act
companies are declared to be those Of
making water available at the head gate
Of the settler not more than one-half
mile from his estry.
This in brief was the contention of
the settlers and the result Of the suits in
the District Court, at least, is complete
vndication OF their position"
For nearly three years the Lincoln
County Times has endeavored in its
feeble way to uphold what it con-
sidered was Justly due the settlers
on the North Side tract. At no
time has our position been antago-
nistic to the company excepting in
so far as to demand from them in
behalf Of the settlers, fulfllmen,
Of the contract entered into.
In this position we have beer
cursed and damned by the compa.
ny promoters and their subsidies
and even the editor of the News who
is an owner Of land on the tract anC
who under ordinary circumstance
should have a. much interest in hi
rights under the contract as an,
other settler, has, for reasons bes
known to himself, always antago
nized every move the settlers hav'
made in their efforts to obtain re
lief.
Much stress has always been lait
on the claim that publicity woul'
drive capital from the state, and il
this claim it was hoped that suffi
cient pressure would be brought T.
silence the Times forever. Nothin
daunted, we have still adhered t
our demands on the part of the set
tiers, believing that their interest
were paramount to all others, whel
in fact they are the real capitalist
to whom the state must look to 70
support in the future.
OF course it pleases us to note tn
results of this campaign Of publicity
in securing our allotment of storag
water, and the recent decisions c
the court substantiate the claims W
have made along other lines.
What pleases us most however,
the awakening it has brought abou
in the land board and among stat
officials in general. Although slo'
to realize it, they have awakened
the fact that the states attitude
the past in granting almost ever
wish of the irrigation companle
and its apparent unconcern for II
interest of the settlers, has annual
robbed the state OF large per Gel
of the immigration that rightfull
belongs to it.
Governor Haines does not atteml
to conceal the fact that under mo
favorable circumstances, instanc
are very rare where an entryms
and actual settler can promptly me
the obligations imposed upon HI
under the existing contracts, and
order that the credit of the state
upheld, and the settlers on Car
act projects protected, some modi
cation must be made in these co
tracts in the way of extension OF pa
ments. Even the Statesman, whi
has always championed the cause
the corporations, has come to t
conclusion that something is WrOl