The Winslow mail., 1923-05-11

the invitation be kept personal and
confidential in order to avoid news
paper discussion and general all
around gossip, with the idea in mind
of obtaining the freest possible ex-
change of ideas and opinions.
/ feel that no one man or any sim
gle group of men know very much
about all of the problems involved
in the development of the Colorado
River. We have a general idea alb
out its potential possibilities but
when it comes to definits accurate
knowledge 1 find that it is still lar
gely a matter of guess work.
| feel that all of you gentlemen are
interested in the welfare of our State
and that all of you are capable of
rising above self interest, that you
are able to grasp the wonderful op-
portunity presented to you of doing
a real, big constructive work for the
ultimate glory of our State and that
the knowledge that we have been
able to do this work will be reward
enough for any of us.
The splendid idealism which amin
ated the American people during the
great world war and which caused
millions to sacrifice wealth, position,
health and in many cases their lives,
for the preservation of our country,
l think still burns in the hearts of
our people, and / believe you gen.
tlemen will appreciate the opportun-
ity for service to the State, which is
the last analysis means the men,
women and children, who now live
here as well as their children's
children.
Arizona, as the youngest daughter
in this union of States, was not given
the advantage of the Enabling Act
granting Statehood which the older
States enjoyed The Federal Gov
ritory for Indian Reservations, Ma
tional Parks and Monuments and
Forest Reserves. The Colorado River
as we all know is our greatest avail
able asset. Q do not want to bore
you bv going into any long discus
sion as to it's potential possibilities
we have had too much of that alrea-
dy,) but 1 think it is advisable to
any that in my judgment it is imper-
ative that if our State is to develop,
as it should, that we must conserve
to the State the benefits of the river.
l am not at all ambitious to con-
tribute toward the building up of Los
Angeles and California with the re-
sources of Arizona. The fact that
they may be little further advanc-
ed at the present time then we are,
and can use the resources of the
river at the present time while we
may not have immediate use for them
is no reason why they should be
given rights that belong to US.
l believe that if California acquires
power from the resources of Arizona
that this State should be paid for it,
and l am not afraid of any fight
which may develop as result of any
effort made by Arizona to obtain for
this State what rightly belongs to it,
and unless we do put up fight
there is no doubt in my mind but
what should belong to us will be
given to some other State or States.
Now with reference to the Colo
RADIO River Compact, | have careful
ly refrained up to the present time
of declaring feither for or against
it-awaiting further knowledge and
information. l am confident that
that action Of the members of the
legislature who opposed the adop-
tion of the compact was the most
constructive thing they could have
done. Their action focused attention
upon the Colorado River and its pos
sibilities, and / think has done much
for better understanding of the
great resources which lie between
the walls of that great canon, no
matter what the final of the Iegisla-
ture of Arizona may be on it.
I think the time has come when
we should take stock" of the situa-
ton We cannot continue to main
tain the purely negative position of
saying that we will not approve the
compact as written and Offering no
substitute in lieu of it, and despite
the opinion of prominent and excel
lent citizens of Arizona, | am very
skeptical about the pact being ap-
proved by the people of Arizona as
it is a present drama, if they fully
understand it. In fact my judgment
would be that with the exception of
a few isolated localities the pact
would be defeated, if submitted on
the basis of present information.
The basic idea of the compact
the attempt to avoid litigation-is
sound but whether or not the prin-
ciples laid down in the pact are the
best for Arizona is open to debate,
hence I have called this conference.
want to invite from you the full
lest and freest discussion:
(a) As to compact itself. and the
advisability of adopting as written.
(b) Amending it to conform with
ideas which may be formulated and
then to seek the consent of the other
States to the amended compact.
(c) Ignoring it entirely and going
ahead with program of develop
ment.
I also want to invite from you the
freest possible discussion of opinion
as to what you think of the possibi-
1ity, practicability and advisability
ofbond-the State for whatever num-