The Delta independent., 1921-12-09

espousing very unpopular attitude
towards the water users OF the valley.
OF course, l assume the declaring the
project open would not affect you
very much, nor some others possibly
who have sold out most of their hold
ings, nevertheless in my opinion they
exceed their rights when they use
facetious arguments to carry their
view. such as: "a man has a right to
be adjudged a bankrupt" "He has
a right to petition a court for guar
dian" HE has the right to throw up
the sponge and quit the valley" I
suppose these questions are what is
meant by this argument, and You fur
ther say he "Fas a right to ask the
Reclamation Service to become his
guardian for life."
But you say, "On my own account
would not, after all the appeals that
have already been made to the Recla.
nation Service and granted, and after
all the proud promises we have made,
ask for another hours delay in the
opening under any circumstances"
This strong statement coming from
the president of the water users as
sociation simply shows he is densely
blind of the situation prevailing in the
valley today. He should know, and if
he is farmer would know, that farm
produce of every kind is at the low
est ebb. Wheat soc, oats 90c, potatoes
75c, hay from SO to Sc per ton, taxes
out of sight and still soaring. the
bottom of the cattle, sheep and hog
market has long ago fallen out, and
today the stockman and for that mat
ter the farmer, too, is mortgaged to
death and yet among all this the
president of the water users associa-
ton is crying aloud to the govern
ment, Declare this project open at
once and will pay if l have to sell
my shirt to do it." Perhaps the small
amount of farming some people do, it
would not take a very valuable shirt
to pay it. And l herewith take fur
ther issue with Mr.. McClanahan in
the stand he takes charging the wa
ter users with dishonesty in asking
the Reclamation Service to delay the
opening of the project while such de-
pressions and unusual conditions are
crowding the farmers. Those condi-
tions are prevailing today not only
here, but all over the country. and
the government, with congress, are
doing all it can to alleviate it.
Are not the banks renewing mort
cages, and creditors extending credits
to stem over these strenuous times
And because we as water users ask
for an extension you say we are dis
honest with the government. Change
your views, Mr.. McClahahan; you are
wrong this time and the people are
against you sure.
That unfortunate stockman who
mortgaged his cattle and ran up
against dead market and was not
able to pay the banker on his return
and asked for renewal, believing he
could pay it next year. did he want to
defraud the bank? No. the banker
knew he didn't and renewed it. That
is the condition of the water user
today, and you make mistake If you
call that man dishonest"
You make another mistake If you
think the present conditions as now
prevailing are merely a 'tbellyache. u
am afraid it is with US to stay for
while at least OF course, you say,
''if some poor unfortunate after the
project is open is not able to pay his
obligations to the government, the
government will be lenient with him. "
Yes, do you know at what rate
Twelve per cent is that lenient, ac-
cording to your view. I wish you
would show me one clause in the
whole reclamation act that is favor
able to the water user. You may
know It had to be made stringent in
its composition to obtain the support
OF the. eastern congressman. For
your information l want to tell you
that all our people here are stirred
to the depths on this important ques-
tion. And meetings have been called
and held, resolutions have been pass
ed by banks, commercial associations,
fraternal societies. farm bureaus. in
favor of an extension, the latter of
which l am informed two members Of
in favor of it, who. If your last meet
ing was correctly reported, changed
their views under your hypnotic spell,
Finally, Mr.. McClanahan, 1 am tell
ing you. that at the next annual meet
ing II your views do not change on
this question you dare not express
them to that assembly and ask for a
vote sustaining them.
Some of your predecessors in office
who never. used the strong express
sions OF your letters in behalf of the
service has been charged with seeking
government favors and obtained them,
and II you escape this you will be in
luck.