The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1922-06-08
THE WEST SPEAKS

THE WEST SPEAKS
WITHIN the last two weeks the
w voice of the West has made
itself heard thruout the length
and breadth of the nation with
an insistent demand that con-
gress pas the Smith-McNary re-
clamation bill. Members of the
senate and the house of repre-
sentatives have been swamped
with flood of kilograms, letters
and resolutions from individuals,
commercial, civic and political
organizations.
The West was aroused to &C
ton by the announcement that
the reclamation bill would prob
ably fail because Congressman
Mondell, of Wyoming, republican
floor leader in the lower house
was opposed to it. Among the
first to take action was a group
of republican newspaper publish
ers of the Yakima valley, who on
May 20 sent the following reso-
luton to number of senator's
and representatives and to Pres
ident Harding:
Following meeting here today OF
the Yakima Benton-K ittitas group OF
the Washington State Press Associa-
ton. republican members of the group
adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas-the republican party in
the last national campaign gave to the
votres of the nation it's pledge to put
into operation a speeded-up and en-
larged program of reclamation, and,
Whereas-the Smith McNary bill
now pending in congress was framed
as fulfillment of that pledge and as
such has received the endorsement OF
the administration, and,
Whereas-said Smith-McNary bill
has been unanimously recommended
for passage by committees in both
houses of congress, and,
MISREPRESENTATION of said Smith
McNary bill will stimulate business
and industry, relieve unemployment,
contribute materially to the nations
wealth, and enure the especial benefit
of the returned soldiery, without pre-
JUDGE or preference to any project,
section or district of the unreclaimed
areas of the nation.
Now therefore be it resolved, by the
following republican newspaper pub
fishers of the state of Washington,
that failure of the republican major
ity in congress to pass the said Smith
McNary bill at the present session will
be regarded by us as an inexusable
breach of faith on the part of the
national republican party and we here.
by declare that we no longer consider
ourselves, either by reason of our past
affiliations or the party's future prom
Uses, bound to continue our support tt
the national republican party.
Republican newspapers represented
at today's meeting were: Ellensbure
Record, Sunnyside Sun, Grandviev
Herald, Wapato Independent, Topper
ish Review, Toppenish Tribune, Ken
newick Courier-Reporter, Zillah Mir
ror, Richland Advocate, Prosser Re
cord Bulletin.
This resolution has been givel
the widest publicity not only il
the West but in the metropolitan
press of the East. E. F. Blaine
secretary Of the Western State
Reclamation association, who ha
been in Washington, D. c., sine
the opening of congress has writ
ten to the editors who sent tn
resolution as follows:
81 appreciate, more than am abb
to express to you, the resolution
which were passed by the editors {
the Yakima valley at their meetin
on the goth instant. These resolution
were carried in the morning "Post
and evening "Star" of this city, tt
"Star" carrying them under heav
headlines. Senator Jones caused the
to be read into the Congressional Re
ord, and later Senator Ashurst if A
izona, in making splendid speech