Imperial Valley press., 1919-01-18
Brands Opponents
To Contract for
misrepresentation,

Declaring that a statement he is
sued recently was being "misused" by
opponents to the ratification of the
Laguna Dam connection contract and
therefore was "misconstrued' by the
public generally, J. M. Thacker, pres
ident of the Yuma County Water
Users Association, has issued another
statement to the voters of the I'M
perial Valley.
This statement, bearing the date
of January 16, declares his belief that
the pending contract furnishes the
most favorable and expedient means
Of removing the menace" of tempo
rary weir" and furthering the inter-
ests Of the two valleys.
This letter, received here today, is
further reinforced by telegram from
H. l.. Beltzhoover, secretary of the as
sociation, which flat-footedly and un-
equivocally says that the "misused"
quotations from President Thacker do
not express the views of the board
of governors and people of the Yuma
valley.
In other words, these two messages
emphasize these two facts, which
must be borne in mind by the voter
as he exercises his suffrage at the
polls on January FL:
That the nti-ratificationists, made
desperate by the steady desertions
from their camp, which have become
more pronounced since Secretary of
the Interior Lane urged support of
the contract, have stopped to misrep-
L. L, o%f mi RI
protect the Mexicans interests and
their own pocketbooks.
That there is and should be no con-
flict between the Imperial and Yuma
valleys; that their interests are mu-
tual, and that unbiased opinion of the
people Of the latter place is that
the local voters should sanction the
contract.
Mr.. Hackers letter, which is adj
dressed to the people Of the lmper-
ial Valley, follows:
'To the People of the Imperial Val
ley: On January 13, 1919, | gave out
a signed statement that it was my
personal opinion that the contract be-
tween the United States and the I'M
perial Irrigation District did not
meet the demands of the Yuma Val
ley in removing the menace OF the
temporary dam at Hanlon's Heading.
1t has now come to my notice that
the meaning which INTENDED to con-
vey is being misued and misconstrued.
What l intended to convey was that
tie contract in itself did not furnish
immediate relief from the menace OF
the Temporary weir, and that the plac-
ing of the Imperial Irrigation District
under the Reclamation Act might
hasten the removal of such menace.
"I believe that the pending contract
between the United States and the
Imperial Irrigation District furnishes
the most favorable and expedient
means of removing the menace and
furthering the interests of the two
valleys. and that the bringing OF the
Irrigation District under the Recla-
nation Law is not inconsistent there
with. j. II. THACkER'
"President Yuma County Water U.s.
ers' Association"
The following wires are self-explan-
atory:
"H. L. Beltzhoover, Secretary Yu-
ma Water Users Association, Yuma,
Ariz.: Have read in Brawley News
purported official letter of President
Thacker addressed to the people OF
Imperial Valley on the question OF
the ratification of the government
contract. Does it express the atti-
tude of the Board of Governor and the
people of Yuma Valley? What will
he the attitude of your board and peo-
ple regarding permitting us to build
: weir next summer if the contract
;s reiected? Your early reply will be
appreciated. LEROY HOLI'
president"
"Leroy Holt. President, Ell Centre
Calf: Your telegram of the 10Th rel
ative to the personal letter OF Pres-
ident Thacker, as interpreted, does not
EXPRESS the views of the Board OF
Governors and the people OF Yuma
Valley. They do not desire to com
nit themselves as to their attitude
toward weir next season, but con-
slider ratification of the contract as
Indicating that the Imperial lrrlga-
ton District desires to comply WITH
the resolution of the Board of Cover
nors. passed January 26, 1918. which
provides for connection with Laguna
dam in order to eliminate the men
ace of the weir at Hanlon's.
III. L. BELTZHOOVER,
"Secretary Yuma County Water U.s.