The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-20
SMITH DISCUSSES
WESTERN PROGRESS
Congressman Tells Ro-
tarians of Reclama-
ton Work

Addison T. Smith, speaking before
the Rotary club on Tuesday on the
subject Of reclamation, said the
greatest advance had been made in
reclamation work in the national
congress in the last year and a half
due to the activities of the Idaho
Reclamation association and the
Western States Reclamation associa-
ton. He especially mentioned the
activities Of Major Fred R. Reed,
with offices at Pocatello being al
ways on the job spreading informa-
ton thru the public press and other
wise to stir up interest in reclama-
ton and to show the possibilities in
reclamation by using the opportun-
tiles and the resources at hand.
Mr.. Smith said that the American
people are good lot of folks who
have way of electing somebody to
represent them in the national gov
eminent and then dismissing the
matter from their mind and expect
ing the representatives to do all the
work. He said the representatives
down in Washington do not accom-
plish very much unless they have the
backing Of the people at home and
the harmonious action that arises
from friendly public sentiment. If
public sentiment is dead or never
heard from 1t might almost as well
be against a thing because the legis-
lators have to show healthy favor
able public sentiment in order to get
hearing and action upon measure.
In the last year and half since
the organization of the Idaho Recla-
Imation association the western rep
resentatives and senator's at Wash
'ington have been able to show great
activity in reclamation and great and
helpful public sentiment in its be-
half and that has enabled them to
accomplish more and interest people
who would never listen before. Idaho
has secured three times as much for
reclamation as she has put into it
and because we have the big projects
easily reclaimed, Idaho is securing
more than other states in this work
Looking at it from Washington they
lines. They look at it as whole and
consider which project has the great
est merits, where the most can be ac-
complished for the money and those
projects that are the best and most
effective receive consideration first.
II any state among the thirteen west
ern states active in the Western
States Reclamation association has
reason to be active and to continue
this activity for reclamation it is
Idaho, lie 0ause she has the best pro-
jects to offer and can get the earliest
consideration.
Bingham county people are rather
proud of the fact that the work of
the Idaho Reclamation association
was started in Bingham county in
certain school house out towards
Taber. Blackfoot men pushed the
matter along, financing themselves
for while until they finally got the
state organization effective and out
of the state organization came the
Western States Reclamation associa-
ton, suggested and started by Major
Fred Reed. He conducted the cor
respondence and got the western
governors interested in the matter
and then 1t was taken over by others
who Lad Il. ore time to devote to it to
perfect the organization. Since that
time irrigation congresses have been
held at Salt Lake City, Los Angeles,
Seattle and Boise and the next one
will be held at Helena. These irri-
cation congresses held every few
weeks are doing much to interest the
peonle Of the different localities and
to, furnish material down in Wash
ington to secure a hearing for |