Imperial Valley press., 1931-01-31

out in any way bringing us the
benefits that we seek.
My opponent is not only telling
you, when he advocates building q
canal to Pilot Knob and stopping
there, that he is opposed to the en-
tire All-American canal project,
but he is trying to fool you into
thinking he favors that project,
but wants to start building a little
at a time.
He must know. if he has any
idea at all about financing such
construction, that the Imperial r.
rigation District would never in the
wide world be able TO raise a bond
privately, nor pay the interest on
those bonds for any such foolish
proposition as that would be l can
only believe that my opponent
wants to side-step the All-American
canal by appearing to be willing to
start it, hut not finish it.
Further indication that am
right in my suspicion is shown by
the radio statements of this op-
ponent regarding the drainage bond
issue that straw ballot is to be
placed before you as voters. Here
is a project, having immediate and
direct benefits to all the ranchers
of the district, yet which amounts
to but one 10th the cost of the first
leg of the All-American canal as
proposed by my opponent. After
saying he favors spending S16,000,-
600 for the first leg of the ALL
American canal, he turns around
and says he doesn't like to see a
drainage bora issue put up to the
people now because he is afraid
the bonds won't sell for more than
10 to rs cents on the dollar in the
market.
He has no fear about $4,000, 900
bond issues on the open market,
even when the project that 16 mil
lion would build will not be backed
by a clear title to the water flow
ing through it into Mexico, but he
is fearful that the ranchers of I'M
perial Irrigation District will have
to take a loss in selling million
dollars worth of gilt edge drainage
bonds.
I'll tell you something about that
proposed drainage bond issue. This
whole proposition was laid before
the board of directors about year
ago by ranchers, who then asked
that the Directors try to get a gen.
eral opinion from the people re-
garding the drainage situation, and
whether the people desired to raise
drainage funds by a bond issue or
not.
This is the first District election
to occur since that petition was
laid before the Board, and it is in
response to this request that we are
now offering the people straw
vote to voice their views in the
matter. It is not an issue in my
campaign now, nor is it an issue
for any individual. 1t is a matter
purely and simply for the people
to express themselves upon. How
ever, should you decide to have a
bond election and should you fin
ally vote for drainage bonds, the
present board members have al
ready declared they will not allow
single dollars worth of drainage
bonds to be sold under par. That
means simply that before we will
sacrifice bonds which have the
finest security in the world back of
them, we will take them up right
here in Imperial Valley. Imperial
Irrigation District has never de-
faulted nor delayed payment on q
single one of her bonds yet. I add
that since the time that I came on
the District board as your director
no District bonds have been sold
for less than 81 1-2 cents on the
dollar, and the last sale of District
bonds brought us 101 cents on the
dollar. Before that time District
bonds sold for as low as 1912 cents
on the dollar. another block at 80
cents, another block 868, and an
other block at "a l-2 cents. Ranch
ers in the valley who need drain
age as badly as many of them do
today will be very willing to buy
enough of such bonds at par to
give them the drainage relief they
seek, knowing that they will get
good rate of interest on their bonds
and that the money will be paid
them when the bonds become due.
I am sorry that may appear to
be somewhat aroused over the var
ious mis-statement of facts that
have been made during this CAM
paign. Four years ago I was unop-
posed, and, SO far as I know, there
were no such publ, misstatements
to contend with. You will pardon
me, then, am sure, if I attempt
here not only to answer such as
sertions and show them for what
they are. but also to go farther
and say will offer my record as
your director as the best evidence
of my ability to serve you in that
capacity.
point to the shops and genera.
offices of the District at Imperial.
I invite you to visit them. To see
that they are efficient, eccnomi-
cally operated, manned by employees
who are chosen without reference
to their politics, but simply because
of their qualifications to do their
work.
1 point to the various depart
mentS of the District, operating un-