The Idaho Republican., 1920-06-02
MEMS LOVE FOR CITIES
AND WOMANHOOD


AND WOMANHOOD
In 1906 when the National irriga
tion congress met ct Portland. Orc.
the men Of Idaho tried for the third
time to get the next annual meeting
for Boise. In doing this they used
the argument that they had asked
for it for 1904 and yielded to e.
Paso, and yielded it again in 1906
to Portland; that they had the great.
est irrigation projects In the wes,
under consideration In Idaho. and
that the time was ripe for the con-
gress to meet in the chief irrigation
state. They promised that they
would be able to show the delegates
the greatest things there were in ir-
rigation. both in prospect. in con-
struction and in operation. They
said they would make up q special
train and carry the delegates by rail
for three days and nights to see the
great valley Of the Snake with It's
storage reservoirs, its canals and
power plants. and its great irrigation
projects in operation by gravity sys-
tenn and by power pumping. But all
these things fell on Indifferent ears
and the Idaho men were in danger
of losing the congress to Reno, New,
on the statements that somewhere
in the same state that Reno was in,
were some irrigation projects, that
Nevada was great state for drouths
and wet spots, and that in Reno they
could smile with more, unhappy mar
riea people and more prospective
grass widows than in any other city
Of its size in the known world, ETC.,
ETC., ad jokity joke.
Big Men Muddled.
1t looked as II that congress was
going to vote to go to Reno, and
Frank McCollum. Major Reed, Mon
ty Quinn. a lot Of Twin Falls and
Boise boosters and scattering fellows
from all over Idaho were rushing
around in more or less confusion
facing final defeat when the SUBJ
ject of the location of the next meet
ing should be called at the morn
ing session. Finally somebody re-
membered Judge ]. H. Richards of
Boise, and his persuasive ways of
bringing an audience to any conclu- |
sion he wanted to arrive at, and |
he said that If they only had Judge |
Richards there to address the con-
gress for Boise, they could turn con-
fusion into harmony, and despair in
to victory. Somebody said that Judge |
Richards was in the city on legal
business, and told what hotel he was
staying at. A phone call to that
place brought the announcement |
that the Judge had just checked out.
Some of the men made quick trip
to the passenger depot, hunted for
the Judge and did not find him, got
past the guard at the gate, found
the eastbound train, went into the
sleepers and found the Judge COM
fortably seated. headed for Boise.
They asked him to come back with
them and save the day. He re-
markd in his dry way that he had
engaged passage for home and was
ready for the trip. They plead their
case earnestly, and he gathered up
his grip and started back with them,
along about their predica-
nent, and saying that if there was
anything he could do he would glad
y act. What did they recommend
hat he should say? On what
grounds should he press the matter,
md what were the arguments that
we're threatening to take it to Reno?
Modest Man to the Rescue
: Pretty soon they were at the con-
'ention hall, with Reno streamers
taring them in the face everywhere,
md the convention about to come
o order. After the usual announce
nents and adjustments they got
own to business on the subject of
he next meeting, and when Judge '
richards got the floor for Idaho, he l
ust talked along with one hand in t
is pocket, telling them that he re- t
retted they would not be able to I
old the next congress in all the t
reat and famous places in our h
reat and famous western country, c
nd that he would not take up their \
lme reciting the long and tedious t
st Of irrigation projects and other Q
'ould just like to tell them a few
atural resources Of his state, but he o
lings about Idaho's capital city and v
1aho's noble women. Then he went T.
n to say that Boise was city of
oodlands, so named from the dia- a
'ct Of early French traders who rec o
gnized its natural beauty. 1t was a q
ty built on natural site for irri- Y
alton; that nature had so planned n
le landscape that cold water for Il
and cool water for irriga- u
on flowed down thru the city and
lie adjacent fields in the most abun-
ant supply, while natural hot water o.
lplied the baths and resorts, the =