Imperial Valley press., 1919-01-30
MUTUAL COMPANIES DOMINATION AND
THE CANDIDACY OF WILL S. FAWCETT

In view of the fact that Will S. Fawcett president Of
Imperial Mutual Water Co. No. l. has at last out
openly in favor of the alAmercan canal under exist
ing conditions and incidentally "existing conditions
might be materially changed by treaty with Mexico
this doesn't to be the main question Of difference
between Mr. Fawcett and j Stanley Brown both candi-
dates for the office of Director of the Imperial Irrigation
District for the Ell Centro section Since Mr. Brown has
from the beginning favored canal that would assure
plenty of water for the Imperial Valley farmers at all
times, which that he has favored an alAmercan
canal it leaves both candidates favOrng the thing
though the water company head is strong for the
plan under existing conditions However, there is a
more distinct difference in the beliefs of the opposing
candidates the Valleys water question: and it is vi
tai one if the sentiment of the people to count for any
thing.
Since the Imperial Irrigation District took con-
troll of the California Development COmpanys system,
there has tecn growing belief that the mutual water
companies are quite unnecessary the efficient dstr
button of irrigation water In addition to this, many feel
that the mutual water companies represent an expensive
luxury. The Imperial County Farm Bureau Board OF d.
rectors long ago went record favorng the con-
sodatiOn of the mutual water companies with the DIS
trct Why was this you ask? The main objection, as
voiced by various ones to be the interference in the
affairs and control of the Imperial Irrigation District by
officers and directors of the mutual water companies 1t
has been claimed that the Imperial Irrigation Dis
tIct would have made greater success OF the manage
nen of the District affairs and would have progressed
much further toward solution OF the various VeXlng
questions attendant upon the Valleys water problem if
the District Board had not been more or less influenced
in its activities by representatives of the mutual compa
MES Just for instance, take the District Board OF u
rectors as it exists today Directors c. D. Manning j. s.
Nickerson and Roy D. McPherrin are important mem
be1s Of mutual water company drectoraes Mr. Nlcker-
son has opposition for reelection Suppose that Mr.
Fawcett is elected District Director This would give four
out Of five members of the District Board who are also
mutual water company directors and then unqueston-
ably the District Board will be dominated by the mutual
water companies though this may not have been the
fact in the past.
If any of the voters think for moment that Water
Company No. is not anxious to see that Mr. Fawcett IS
chosen District Director it is because such voters have
been overlooked by the agreeable gentlemen who have
been circulating petitions around the E Centro district
Water Company No. 1 apparently desires to be repre-
sened the District Board by at least one more drec
tor and thus aid in putting off the dreadful Ito the COM
2any> day of mutual company elimination
And all this is said in spirit of utmost admiration
for the efficiency and standing of both Mr. Fawcett and
Mr. Brown It is merely intended to be friendly analy
sis of the situation for the information Of voters that
the election next Wednesday may be expression
as to whether the people of this district desire the District
Board to be controlled by the mutual companies