Imperial Valley press., 1933-10-17
Editorial Page
and
Features
BRAWLEY IGNORED AGAIN


Once again the wishes of Brawley vot-
ers have been disregarded by the board
of supervisors, who yesterday rejected
for the second time, the name of Charles
II. Morrow for appointment as director
of the Imperial Irrigation District
The action of the supervisors was tax
en- despite the fact that petition con-
tanning approximately 500 names and
representing $4,000 acres of land, was
presented to them asking that Morrow
be appointed.
Supervisors Osborne Vencill and Best
again voted against naming Morrow,
while Supervisors Graham and Preble
voted in favor of such a--ion.
1t may be that the wishes of 800 per-
sons are not supposed to be considered.
The inference was made yesterday that
the petition was not indicative of the
wishes of Brawley voters. Yet the total
number of names on the petition COM
pares favorably with the total votes cast
on the canal project by Brawley voters IN
both elections held to approve the canal
contract.
The total vote in the February II,
1882, election was 1,464; in the January
r. 1888, election the total votes cast
amounted to 1,200. In view of these fig
ures = the result of a regularly called
and advertised election - the expressed
wishes of 500 persons should be recog-
niZed as giving better than fair idea OF
the Brawley voters wishes. True, the
signatures fall short of a majority OF
Brawley voters, but so did the totals on
the canal vote.
The supervisors did unbend a little
from the stiff -necked attitude they as
sumed last week, by voting to allow vot-
ers in the Brawley district to conduct
STRAW ballot to express their prefer
ence for director from their district. Su-
pervisor Vencill voted with Graham and
Preble in support of the motion, Tor
which he is to be commended 1t was at
least a gesture toward recognizing the
rights of the Brawley people.
Those who deplore the unjust attitude
which the supervisors have held toward
Brawley voters have felt that if any re-
lief were to be given the latter it must
come from Supervisor Vencill who has
valley-wide reputation for being fair
minded and willing to judge any propo-
sition solely upon its merits. His vote on
the straw ballot" bears out this repu-
tation and gives hope that, upon compile
ton of the ballot he will be guided by
the expressed wishes of the BraWley vot-
ers.
The "anti-canal" myth, so far as Nor
row is concerned, was exploded at yes
terday's hearing when, in his petition for
appointment, he declared himself in
favor of the districts canal program and
pledged his support to it if elected.
Again, in answer to a question put to him
during the meeting, Morrow declared he
is in favor of having any power gener-
ated upon the canal disposed of only IN
accordance with the wishes Of the people
as expressed in an election.
Unless somebody wishes to take the
risk of calling Morrow liar and prov
ing that he is, his statements must be
taken as truth, and are so taken by all
fair-minded persons.
In answer to question directed at Su-
pervisor Osborne, inquiring if the voters
of his district are opposed to giving
Brawley voters the right to name their
own director, the supervisor declared,
"The people of Ell Centro sit in on this"
at least an inferential statement that his
actions represent the wishes of his con-
stituents.
On this, The Press differs with him.
We are in a position as favorable as Su-