The Winslow mail., 1923-05-11
W|NSOR DECLINES TO ATTEND
CONFERENCE CALLED BY GOV.

For by way of ratification" he
says, Il feel, with every ounce of
faith there is in me, lies the path OF
progress. By way of ratification lies
industrial advancement and immen-
sely increased prosperity for Ariz-
ona-to say nothing of the discharge,
as l see it, of very real obligations
to the States of the Colorado River
Basin, if not indeed to the entire
country. In rejection of the Com
pact lies delay-indefinite perhaps
interminable delay-a delay of which
We who are here today may never
see the end. 1t means continued
controversy, pickering, and perhaps
permanet disagreement. 1t means
the retardation of industry, the pre-
vention of improvements, the denial
of healty growth.
AS to the fears and objections that
have been expressed by some, he
says: Nor is there anything in the
Compact to excite the fears which
have been expressed concerning it,
or to justify the complaints which
have been directed toward it. 1t is
simple, and easily understandable
document. 1t will accomplish what
it was designed for 1t serves every
legitimate aim 1t attacks no vested
interests, but rather recognizes and
protects them. 1t leaves the States
in the full possession and enjoyment
of every right sovereign or other
wise, which they now enjoy, or which
they will ever enjoy with or without
a compact; and this may be under
stood to include the right to tax, by
royalty or otherwise, enterprises on
the Colorado River not publicly con-
structed and owned. 1t does, or will
do, just what it was meant to do
only that and nothing more"
He says Referring specifically to
the questions surrounding and relat-
ed to the imposition of royalty tax
upon hydro-electric power, they are
questions that bear no legitimate
relationship to the Compact So far
as electrical energy produced under
private ownership is concerned, no
authority presumes to question the
power of the State to tax it. How
ever, the greatest royalty to Arizona
from the production of hydro-eIec-
trio power, will come in the form
of new industries born and old ones
energized; water drawn from the
earth and fertile valleys quickened
ture expanded and vitalized; miner
al storehouses explored; railroad
stretching themselves to the call of
transportation; cities reared and
extended; homes created, and ever
the hum of an increasing and pros
porous people,"
Il venture the belief" he says
further, that no other objection
that has been offered to the Compact
is sufficiently meritorious to warrant
a serious answer"
He assures the Governor that ha
has no quarrel with anyone honestly
and conscientiously opposed to the
Compact, and admits that cit is
humanly possible that it's opponents
may be right. If so, l am guilty OF
an egregious error of judgment, and
| do not wish, by intolerance of the
views Of others to place myself out
side the pale of forgiveness. l have
no fault to find with you, Governor,
for advising delay pending certain
engineering Investigations along the
Colorado River, by representatives of
the United States Geological Survey,
the United States Reclamation Ser
vice and the State of Arizona joint
ly l do not agree with the neces-
sity for awaiting the investigation,
or with any likelihood that its deter
mination Will add to the sum total OF
essential information, but l consider
your attitude with respect to it a
reasonable one"
Expressing the hope that such dis
cussi0n as there may be, in public
talk, or in the papers, may be mark
ed by temperance of language and
consideration for the sincerity of
those with conflicting views" he
concludes his letter as follows: "In
the meantime, I trust you will be-
lieye this, that although I do not
feel-and I am sorry-that I can
helpfully contribute to a conference
inspired by search for a course or
plan other than early ratification of
the Compact, l do want to be of as
sistance to you, to your administra-
tion and to the State in any way
that l properly can, and if time
shall hereafter come or an occasion
arise when it seems to you that my
or counsel might possess a
value of however small degree, I
wish that you would call upon me,
assured that you will be welcome to
whatever [ can give"