The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-12-29
A WESTERN PROGRAM FOR 1920.

THE Western States Reclamation Association Is the name of an
organization formed in November in Salt Lake City at a con-
from fourteen states having large areas Of public land within their
congress for a new and broader western reclamation program. 1t will
as an endowment for reclamation works to be carried Im BY tn the states tat
themselves. On January "a the western governors and delegates
named by them will meet in Washington with western congressman
IN an effort 10 give this great movement definite form and forward
states in 1920 Il is a program which should claim the instant atten-
un M hold the enthusiastic support OF the whole nation, for in its
success VIII De found the solution to our more pressing national
problems r.
Just how big and how worthy this program may be made has
been stated in the following extracts from a letter written by Francis
q. Tracy, Of Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Governor Davis of Idaho, in
response TO a letter from the governor who IS president of the new
reclamation association; az
"It has seemed to m e that we should claim for our program the
support Of the whole nation upon the ground that the far western
states are taking the lead in a nation wide agricultural development
program to increase food production, reduce the cost OF living, and
to do our share toward feeding and clothing the wrld, Our staple
prduets are those most needed by civilization today, alfalfa, meats
strcted areas and requiring irrigation for largest results We com
ple%eni instead Of competing with rain belt production and produce
We should urge a nation wide agricut .ral development pro
gram upon such a plan and scale as will attract the best minds and the
patriotism OF the entire nation and should offer our part of it as being
specially adapted 10 obtain the speediest results in our locality.
The two greatest economic problems before the nation today
q distribution. These are fundamental and upon their proper solution
depends absolutely the extent Of national prosperity. The labor
problem lies at the root Of production.
The critical political problem $ how to break up the great con.
ccntrations Of foreign elements which we have careessly permitted
to be formed among us and with which we come in contact only, upon
the circumference without ever penetrating to the heart.
,mong T these 70 foreign ssrl'H %a%ss for PG's al iho saoT who e were Ss% country a folk sfs' SS
Inheritance and training IN the old countries and proper provision
should be msde 10 help them upon the land, so widely distributed that.
themselves and their children will be thrown into that daily contact.
with Americanism that alone leeds 10 complete mutual human under
standing. This viii go far to solve The agricultural labor problem
and ] know Of no more rapid method and no road more sure to lead
toward their complete assimilation in the body polite. There never.
has been such an opportunity with all conditions favorable to the
greatest success provided only the national effort can be aroused and
eryztani1ed upon a broad scale.
"Humsnhy, patriotism economies all point in the same direction
and IL has fallen 10 the western states 10 lead the way to a combina-
tion Of these issues into a common channel for the welfare of the whole
nation.
at seems IN me that we cannot raise our sights TOO high for.
this purpose and that it depends wholly upon our own vision and
that IL depends npon our own presentation to attain the creates, pos
sible success. for ourselves and 10 lead the whole nation on the safe
road 20 almost hoandless prosperity ana harmonious progress toward
oil the higher ideals Of true democracy"