The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-04-20
"A REASON FOR
OUR SUCCESS

When the congress OF the United
States did inst what was asked FOL
for the financing of the Fort Hall
Project this year, the year when all
other projects were turned down OF
held up, there was reason for It,
and 1t is worthy Of review at this
time. ar Selstf i5s.ts,g s
When leading men of three \ OF
four counties launched the under
taking to secure this appropriation
and accomplish these improvements
In the face Of hard times and re-
fusals Of congress to spend any
money they did not have to, the men
met together and canyassed the sit
uations to see exactly what was
needed. Then they conferred much
and often until they, found out Just
how It was possible to- get it. 1t
meant that work must be done and
that expenses must be paid. Then
they decided who ought to pay the
expenses of the preliminary work,
and they levied upon themselves and
their associates and parties most in
terested in securing the improve
ments, and put up the money not
outstanding it was hard times. In
addition to all this, they stood to-
gether and cO-operated all the time.
They did not lose faith in one an
other, they did not kick over the
traces, they did not allow other
things to creep in and divide their
forces or ditch the undertaking, but
stood pat, worked steadily and did
not rock the boat. The forces in
Washington presented but one plan,
and there was no opposition to it
from people at home or any other
place-an unusual thing coming
from the west.
It usually happens that when the
west or some locality out west wants
something, when the plans are well
along and it is looking like success,
somebody at home organizes a re-
bellion and sends in or takes in
different plan and offers it as some
thing better and representative of
the wishes of more people than the
other plan. Then official Washing
ton sits back and waits for us to get
together and find out what we want,
before they will spend any more of
their valuable time listening to us.
We have a very live example Of it |
just now in the case of the American
Falls reservoir project. After the
plans were pushed as far as existing
forces could push them, Washington
said it was done unless the settlers
did their part, and It looked as if the
greatest irrigation enterprise of the
lines was about to collapse. Then
great conference of all interested
,artes was called to meet in Poca-
clio to lay plans for saving the pro-
ect If it was considered desirable to
ave it.
Most of the population stayed at
ZONE, of course, but a few brave
ouls from over southern and east !
IN Idaho met and formulated a set
I plans. Then for a short period
hey laid it open to criticism and OBJ
ections and then it was adopted as
directed, and debate was shut out !
nd action commenced. II
True to our old habits, when the [
lans have advanced to a critical {
tage, the DIRECTORS rise and begin
oifer other plans which they think I
1ould be better; they get large I
blowing and all the lukewarm fell I
'ws who cannot decide things for
1emselves anyhow, pause and wait q
see which way it is going to go, s
nd If it goes into oblivion they suf- t
II long with all the rest and COM d
lain about hard times and unfavor- G
bic conditions confronting them. a
hey talk loud and long about the s
ire calamities that might have hap r