Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-07

ready demonstrated the wonderful
quality Of those men who have
'vrought this marvellous accomplish
ment. To turn the hard. unyielding
desert into a great fertile valley
filled with the finest farms that lie
outdoors, in a locality where Nature
had declined to provide the one thing
so sadly needed and so vitaliy essen
1 tial and which has been supplies by
! the genius of the hand of man, has
/ been the task that we'll nigh ap-
rToaches the miraculous.
But the work, marvellous and ap-
realing as it is, has in sense only
been fairly started. Upon the solid
foundation Of assured crop yield which
is now an actuality, must be based
| that greater struggle for addition,
enlargement intensive development
and commercial evolution and growth
that will make possible the realiza-
ton of the great dream that is rap
idly unfolding down here in the far
Southwest.
l am happy at the vision Of hard
work which confrontS ne, and the op-
YoTtunity presented by means Of di
~ecting the destinieS Of this newspa
ler, and thereby doing my share G
the labor incident to this task Of
working out the destinies Of the I'M
rerial Valley. l may as well admit
the fascination and lure of this strange
and almost mysterious locality.
But | labor under no hypnotic
spell, l know its handicaps and !
know its restrictions. | understand
the pioneer character of this situa-
ton. But. knowing all this. l am
to become a useful member
cf this sturdy, determined band Of
1aen and women who have set their
faces against the mer, esthetical side
Ct life and have launched on a cam
paign to do great and substantial
task in the world. Frankly, | am
seizing with eagerness this chance
to Join hands with those who are
T oud to do their bit of roughing it
that something worthy and something
substantial and worth while may be
accomplished in the worlds work. And
this huge farming campaign here Is
what is needed in this hour Of re-
stricted food supplies and cuItailed
yield.
Lengthy detail dealing with the fu-
ture policy Of The Press will be OF
little interest now. Performance is
so much more important than promise
that | shall try to show, day by day.
the publication that will seem to me
r1ost adapted to his situation. 1t will
take time to organize and to set in
motion the changes and betterments
which | shall undertake. The paper
i'll be patriotic rather than partisan
1t will be independent. but not neu-
tral. | have no pride of political opin-
icn to protect as against the general
welfare of this community. l am
seizad rather with a distinct desire
. publish a newspaper that shall be
essentially fair minded and open
rlinded. Whatever it may prove to
he, it will never knowingly be biased
CT prejudiced. Every man and every
Interest shall have his and its orpoi
tCnity to be heard.
My aim shall be to make The Press
an institution the primary interest of
which shall be the upbuilding Of this
wonderful Imperial Valley, That
am shall be and is fundamental. On
that must rest the political activities
of this publication. Since the news
paper must serve all classes and all
interests, it shall not attempt to as
scrt its opinions on mltters Of small
dispute and Of personal or primary
3htical character, but win rather do
lis part Of the labor unfettered by
the limitation Of divided allegiance
and restricted interest