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Show WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT7 Lot us look at the recent political history of trjls Irrigation subject. When Theodore Roosevelt, candidate for Vice-Frcsldcnt of the United States on the Republican ticket, made his tour through tho West, the subject sub-ject of irrigation was brought pointedly point-edly before him by Influential men who dwell In these valleys. In a speech at Saltalr pavilion, on tho shore of the great Salt Lake, he made his reply. He promised that If elected to that high position to which he was aspiring, aspir-ing, ho would do his utmost to secure the passage of an Irrigation law for the benefit of the arid West. "If Utah will do tho right thing by us, we will do the right thing by you." Thus spake Col. Roosevelt. In Dec. 1001, Theodore Roosevelt, as President Presi-dent of the United States, sent a message mes-sage to Congress. Ho called on the National Legislature to build up the West by making such reservoirs and mlan-llnc canals as were Impracticable for private enterprise. Ho declared that "Irrigation works should bo built by the National Government." An Irrigation bill was prepared and Introduced Intro-duced Into Congress. But the eastern Congressmen knew little of Irrigation, and had less use for It. Many of them feared that development de-velopment of the West would bring ruinous competition to the farmers cast of tho Missouri. The friends of Irrigation were too few to pass the bill, it Boomed to bo doomed in committee. com-mittee. President Roosevelt was appealed ap-pealed to on behalf of this State. His responso was ready and powerful. By his strenuous efforts tho Irrigation bill was passed. Without those efforts It would have failed. Gladly he appended his signature to the bill, aid it became a law, providing millions of dollars to promote irrigation systems for the benefit of the arid West. |