Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-26
ARIZONA STARTS
A FIGHT AGAINST
ATIFICAT|ON Of
WATER CONPACT
First of a Series of Public
Meetings to Urge Its De-
feat VIII Be Held Monday
in Phoenix
SAYS IT FAVORS THE
UPPER BASIN STATES


Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 2j.--Oppo-
sition forces today launched their
campaign TO prevent ratification
by the Arizona state legislature of
the compact allocating the waters
OF the Colorado river, signed last
night at Santa l'e, n. NJ, by rep
resentatives Of the seven states in
the river basin.
George II. Maxwell, executive dt-
rector Of the National Reclama-
ton association and mn outspoken
opponent of the compact, announc-
ed that the first of a series of pub
lie meetings in which he will urge
defeat of the river treaty will be
held here Monday night. lie will
speak in every city and town of
importance in Arizona, he said, and
later q mass meeting protesting
the compact will be held in Phoe-
mis-.
'oThe compact as finally signed
favors the upper basin states Mr.
Maxwell said today. THE lower
basin states-Arizona, California
and Nevada-get the worst of the
bargain.
.'The basis Of division of the
water by measurement at Lees
Ferry, Ariz, is itself unfair al
though on its face it would give
the two groups Of states approXi-
nately ogual amounts of water.
Wastagc of the River
'cThe wastagc of the Cole ado
river In its 1ower stretches 'ar
sreoter then thp additions Of wa
ter from tributaries and the points
below Lees Ferry would have to
stand this wastage. The amount
of water allotted to the upper
group, on the other hand, is based
on the flow reaching Lees Ferry,
according to the measurements OF
past years,
at has been stated by engineers
that in order TO provide a certain
amount OF water for the imperial
valley in California, twice that
amount would have to pass Lees
Ferry in order to allow for was
tage. If the flow Of the river is
standardized by means of dams
and reservoirs the wastage from
evaporation will be much greater
proportionately than it is at pres
ent."
Sees Asiatlc Menace
In his earlier criticisms of the
river compact, Mr.. Maxwell has
charged that a group Of land spec
ulators are waiting to take advan-
tage Of the compact to divert o
large part of the rivers flow into
Mexico for the development of an
Asiatic state at the head of the
Gulf of California which he de-
clares will be a future menace to
the United States.
In contrast to the stand taken by
Mr.. Maxwell, Governor Thomas u.
Campbell, who is also a close stu.
dent Of Arizona's irrigation and
power problems, has stated that
the treaty is not only fair to Ari-
zona but necessary development:
and has pledged his support to the
compact as signed.
Governor-elect George w. p.
Hunt, who sent a telegram to Sec
retary Hoover as chairman of the
river commission last Tuesday,
stating his opinion that Arizona
could not ratify the compact for
at least two years has refused to
make any further statement at the
present time. Governor-elect Hunt
succeeds Governor Campbell III
January.
Protests to Harding
Mr.. Maxwell today sent his Sec
ond telegram in three days to
President Harding. protesting
against the compact and predicting
its final defeat, The message also
informs the president Of the series
of public meetings planned in op-
position to ratification Of the pact.