Arizona republican., 1915-01-08
FARMERS To AID
MINE INDUSTRY
Are Beginning to Realize
Importance of Mining in
Arizona and Are Joining
Local Chapter of Mining
Congress

\ quiet spoken, unassuming young
farmer-but the owner of several
hundred acres of Salt River valley
land Tor all his modesty and quiet
l4eSs-Walked into the office of the
'fizona chapter Of the American
Mining Congress, North Second ave-
nuc. lie filled out an application for
membership and passed five dol
Far bill across the desk
Il wish thar you could let me in
for two or three memberships" he
said And while, am about it |
want 10 tell you mining men that
you have us farmers sized UP wrong
you have charged Us with being hostile
toward the industry. particularly to-
ward the big companies But until
you organized this chapter You never
did % thing to let us know how inn
pOrtant the industry WAS. We were
busy with our alfalfa, our steers. our
cotton and our sugar cane, and no
time 10 find out for ourselves how
much money your copper gold and
silver We're bringing into the state.
If ] had always known what | know
NOW about the relative Importance of
mining my attitude on a great many
questions would have been decidedly
different
From this time forward YOU can
count on the farmers to cooperate
with The mining men. You will find
them ready to meet You half way on
public questions. such as taxation
vi my neighbors are going to join
This chapter and We are going to
watch its work pretty closely, for we
now realize that the development of
mines means the development of
markets for our products.
This is only one instance. The
Young farmer mentioned expressed
himself a little more freely and
clearly than most but the sentiments
Of scores who have become members
of the Arizona chapter in the last
few weeks are practically the same
In fact. one of the most surprising
features in connection with the for
nation Of the chapter has been the
eagerness with which persons not di-
rectly connected with mining have
applied for membership. When the
organization was perfected it was
with the idea of securing at least
2000 members Present prospects
are that that mark will be passed
before long
Signs of a tremendous change
rather an awakening-of public SEN
timent are seen on every hand in
A,~t-y 9
the chapter is now assured Already
it is eXerting a powerful influence.
1t was Immediately after the an
nual convention Of the american
Mining Congress. held here Deem
her I'll. that the Arizona chapter
was formed. W. r. Twitchell of this !
city was elected governor. In his !
first address he stated that the i'm |
portance of the convention had not
been realized by the people Of Phoe-
nix and vicinity But he blamed the
mining men of Arizona for not bring |
ing them To q realization that a !
great national convention. certain to !
exert strong Influences on congress I
and the entire country. was in pro-
sress. He predicted that the Ari- !
zona chapter would gain for mining !
recognition as the leading industry of !
the state. the industry that is bring
ing in more outside money than all |
others combined. That prediction is !
now coming true
4 square zeal for the investor !
cpitomizes the underlying purpose Of
the chapter as well as anything !
else. remarked Acting Secretary +. !
l.. Wolcott. Everybody agrees that |
Arizona needs outside capital Capt. /
RAJ is timid and will not venture |
into Arizona unless it is convinced !
that it viii be welcomed and pro-
tected not hampered or restricted by
unfriendly litigation / cannot help
thinking that had this chapter been |
an active organization during the re-
cent campaign some Of the laws tina !
were passed and are now causing ali
kinds Of concern would have been
defeated. Arizona mining men have
begun a little late to cooperate
among themselves. and to get into
touch with the other people of the |
state, but not too late. What has
already been accomplished is only an !
earnest of what is going to be ac-
complished in the future by inteli- ;
gent, unceasing. wel-directed ef
forts
Permanent quarters have been Sc
cured for the chapter at III North !
Second avenue Mr. WolcOtt. whose !
regular position is assistant secre-
tary of the American Mining Con-
gress. is still in charge but within
a few days the permanent secretary
will be selected and installed. The
various committees, particularly the
legislative committee. are active and
the chapter is certain to be heard
from during the coming session of
the. legislature.