International., 1925-08-31
THE, INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL PAGE
THE RIVER CONFERENCE

Although some folks differ from Gov. Hunt his
views in regard the Colorado river compact only
very few feel that the chief executive took the wrong at
eoe soug a. eftnr ae # began at Phoenix blew up"
The Arizona Daily Star carried the following aE nte1
estng editorial entitled Charity Versus Economy which
hits the nail pretty squarely on the head
Governor Hunts statement before the trlstate Colo
RADIO River conference in Phoenix Monday was the excuse
not the the California and Nevada delegates
walked out throwing the meeting into deadlock
"Delegates from the two neighborng states came to
Arizona with ultimatum which demanded Inab as
prelude to negotiations or even discussion 49, ~
zona unresevedly that the trst consucIon
of dams the Colorado river should oe at bouoe @a
sWith that ultimatum issued they walked out when
they heard Governor Hunts side OF the discussion IL IS
Just as we'll that the conference break up then as ae
for with both sides determined what they want ana
both sides unwilling to compromise further discussion
"As Governor Hunt said the California and Nevada
delegates did not come Arizona looking for charity
and that if Arizona has something they want economic
Justice dictates that it be paid for Economic law ana
sefpreservaton dictates the Governor pohcy LII tne
Colorado Pact as written at Santa Fe he grave er-
rors which must be remeded before Arizona will receive
what is hers by natural right: A.
The first is that the compact does not apporqon @ tne
water as authorized by law "between states Out De-
tween arbitrary divisions called basins which places All
iona in competition with California, and if agreed to
would "be signing away all ner llsnS "no p ~ N
Second all of the water has been apportioned the
states of the upper basin whlch tney can USE anu
cient water for the lower basin.
Third no provision is made to prevent water stored
United States, when 1t is reeaSeu O0nS
oiled to Mexican and possible water rights acquired
in that country -,
"And fourth, that in the ALLEGATION OF water the up
per basin states will be served with the norman ITO" OF
the river while the lower basin must oepeno on storage
and no allowance is made for evaporation losses
"What does Arizona want? The Governor answers
frankly: - 49, ooao,,;c lowe arc
"At this time all we ask for II the economic iaws are
to be set aside and treaty negotiated is that Arizona re-
ceve protection of her rights including her future oeVe
opment If you ask specifically what we want reply
to YOU frankly, without apology tnat we 40 not
know because have not sufficient data available TO oe
termine what it is practicable to develop:
eve do not fear development in CaIltorna or IN the
upper basin if the law of priores based appropra-
ton for beneficial use remains in full effect But the
law is to be disturbed modified set aside we nave I'M
mediate cause for alarm =,
Governor Hunt is openly the defensive, ne Wshes
to protect Arzonas rights the Colorado to the fullest
extent and he will not countenance invasion OF those
rights in the slightest And it would be invasion II the
ultimatum before any discussion entered into at
Phoenix. nA- ~
"From the news stories carried In yesterday morn
nos papers might be implied that the Governor IS Will
inc to let the flow to the and take no acon
the state ready for development Thls sup
position is wrong We believe that the Governor IS just
as anxious as any else for the immediate harnessng
of water and nower upon which just dlstrl
button the water be made what the governor
apparently wants. and until those facts are forthcoming
and until that Just distribution be arranged ne oe
1eves in defending what the state has not up TO ths
signed away. . e,4 ,4;xo
tum from neghbors and then to discuss the ways ali"
means of handing the river over to them.
Tucson police waging war on chlldren drivers
of automobiles There is law against children operat-