The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-13

taxes that would follow an increased
population. In this letter l will no
attempt to give details or statistics
but suggest that when you receiv,
literature on this subject in future
or see articles in any of your papers
you give your careful attention ant
study to what land reclamation
means In Idaho.
The almost unbelievable fertilit!
of our soil, which is equal or super
Tor to the valley Of the Nile, makes
1t imperative that we coordinate oul
efforts to use all this land for the
benefit of humanity. And, In ou1
busy whirl, we must not forget thai
thousands Of families, settlers al
brave and earnest as any pioneers II
American history, are already giving
their very lives to the development
Of these acres, and look to us with
tired, appealing eyes, for the co.
operation they know is justly due
the relief that is their right.
Is there q woman in Idaho today
who does not know some tragedy oil
poverty and sorrow that has been
caused by the delay in accomplishing
this great work of reclamation ?
Wherever men toll and starve and
suffer, is 1t not true that women and
little children toll and starye and
suffer too? II then, as the most
earnest thinkers of our. state con-
cede, the problem of reclamation Is
the paramount issue in Idaho today,
can we, as thinking women, afford to
neglect our part in this great for
| ward looking endeavor, this stipend
GUS development of all that is best
in our state?
Major Fred r. Reed, the managing
director and executive head of the
Idaho Reclamation association, is a
man who knows intimately the con-
ditions and needs of every county in
the state. There is nothing local
or sectional about his work. Not
only has he knowledge of all the
problems that confront the people of
Idaho, but he is well versed in the
needs of the entire west, having had
a large and active personal part in
the development of Washington,
Oregon, Montana and other far west
ern states. 1t is natural that under
his leadership and inspiration the
Western States Reclamation associa-
ton should have been formed at Salt
Lake City with the governor of Idaho
its president, and that thru the vari-
Gus activities which Major Reed has
put in motion the question of land
reclamation in Idaho and her sister
states should have been lifted from
the limbo of local questions to a high
place in the platforms of both po-
litical parties and the earnest con-
sideration and attention, not only of
both presidential candidates, but of
the entire nation. II
Many Of us can help in this work
only as we helped in Red Cross work,
by our moral support and by con-
tributing our memberships to help
finance this immense campaign of
education. While it is true that the
newspapers of our state and the west
have co-operated wonderfully in put
ting this question before the people,
the fact remains, as in Red Cross
work, that funds are indispensable.
We must conduct a nationwide cam
paign Of publicity, as the principal
thing to overcome is the appalling
lack of knowledge on the part of the
public in general and eastern con-
gressmen and senators in particular,
as to the benefits to be derived for
the country at large by the simple
loan from our government of the
necessary funds to carry our proper
reclamation projects to success.
Contrary to the supposition of
many, the west does not ask for the
gift of a single cent from the govern
ment. The states of the west,
large and integral Fart of our
country, ask only for credit on long
time loans of money, every cent of
which, with proper interest, will be
paid back to our government. Loans
Of larger sums than we ask have
been made to tottering and bankrupt
European states-why so difficult to
obtain for our own people?
Will not the club women of Idaho
pause and give thought to the i'm
portance of assisting locally, each in
her own community, in perfecting
and extending the organization Of
The Idaho Reclamation association,
thereby furnishing the sinews Of war,
he ammunition for this, another
big battle for progress and develop
nent, affecting the lives of countless
women and children, as we'll as the
futures Of all our soldier boys who
would like to make farm homes?
A plan by which the club women
IAN work effectively is being evolved
md will be laid before all the wom-
sn's clubs of the state at an early
late. Meanwhile, I respectfully ask
you to study attentively this subject,
Ind give your moral support as we'll
Is your personal membership to the
IDAHO Reclamation association, the