White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-06-03
new ORGANIZATION
LAUNCHED LAST SUNDAY

If later found desirable, the latest or
! ganization with high hopes to bt
formed in the valley was baptized
"Priest Rapids Valley Association
at fairly well attended meeting al
II the Brick school house last Sunday
afternoon. o. F. Allen presided as
chairman Of the meeting and A. l.
Brockway as secretary.
The main purposes of the organi-
cation as outlined at the meeting
were to settle the water question,
to reduce water and power rates il,
the valley, to work for the interests
Of the whole valley and no particular
section, and to work for the coop
Grafton of and an understanding with
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad.
Chairman Allen called for an. ex-
preston of opinion and n. r. Thunnn,
T. A. Spratlen, Mrs. M. S. Meeks,
and r. r. Woods responded with
short talks approving the general OBJ
jects of the organization as outlined
and upon motion of Mr.. Woods.
those who desired to join were asked
to sign paper to that effect. The
paper was circulated by Henry
Young and A. L. Brockway and be-
tween so and 10 of those present
signed. A meeting of the members
follwed Immediately. After some dis
cussion it was decided to elect a
board Of nine members, three from
White Bluffs, three from Hanford
and three from the outlying districts.
Nominations were then made and the
following board, to draw up the by
laws of the organization to be acted
on at a later meeting, was elected by
acclamation: T. A. Spratlen, Amel
Bolihnan, o. F. Allen, II. F. Thumn,
N. s. Meeks. A. I. Brockway. c.
F. Wooten, G. T. Slavens and John
Griffiths. This board was elected to
serve for one year, although there
was some difference in opinion az 10
the length Of time they should serve.
c. F. Wooten In short talk plead
ed for harmony and said he had never
found lack of harmony between the
different parts Of the valley and that
he was as willing as he always had
been, to do everything to promote
harmony.
The board organized by the election
of o. F. Allen as president, A. L..
Brockway as vice-president and T.
A. Spratlen as secretary.treasurer
AS soon as the board finishes drafting
the bylaws, another meeting of the
members will be called to approve
them or to make such changes az
they see fit.
The outlined purposes Of the or
ganization are popular,-inore pop.
ular perhaps than they are easy Of
execution. Everybody is in favor OF
cheaper water and power and for
ssornes time there has been n strong
sentiment, particularly in this end of
the valley, for an equitable settlement
of the controversy between the Han
ford water right owners and the COM
pany that holds the physical title to
the irrigation system. This latter
matter, however, is purely one be-
tween the water right owners and the
company and it is difficult to see
how the new organization can help
in the solution Of this problem other
than in an advisory capacity. It
might accomplish something though
along that line, and an encouraging
factor in this respect is the fact that
some OF those who in the past have
done most to hamper peaceful settle
fment, now speak openly for harmony.
There are some good men on the
board and if constructive policy is
adopted in directing lis activities. the
organization has a chance to do
lot Of good. Although it represents
at present only minority Of the
residents of the valley so long as
it devotes its activities to matters of
general material community better
ment, it may accomplish something
and will have the good wishes Of
nearly every one in the valley. But
if it is allowed to become involved in
controversial matters within the district
or permits itself to become a political
football, it will sound it's. .>own death
knell and will 60 the way OF the
100 per cent American Legion Post, Of
which this valley was once so proud,
and other similar organizations whose
hopes were once equally high.
Everyone here knows that there has
been. particularly during the laat few
years, too much dissension in the val
ley for it's own good. And, regardless
of the merits or dement's OF the differ
ent controversies, there is going to
have to be more unity Of purpose for
the common good; more of q live and
let live spirit and more of that all es-
sential thing, team work, before any
material progress can be made.
And that goes for everybody.
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