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...8- and the traders and pioneers in the early years of' the winning of the West. If the present status and, the future growth of' our states are to be de... termined on a priorit~r bl.sis and the older oanmunities are to throttle and OQll- trol industry and business and lif'e in the seotions whioh wel"e settled later, then a theor;r of' lif'e and human relationships utterly f'oreign to the ~rioan's idea of' his right to grow and to develop will have taken hold in our republio. JiLd the pioneers who reolaimed the Yiest undeJ'stood that their ef'forts would be subjeot to the life they were leaving they might have avoided a world of hardships--and this oountry would have died of' dry rot. The idea is so prepos- terous that it 'does not stand analysis. Nevertheless when ideas like these are supported by the people of the thiok- ly populated states and their larger representations in the Congress the threat beoanes real. , This is the third time in three years that seizure of' the oontrol of' the waters of the Arkansas by Federal agenoies has been attempted. In the previous two instanoes proof of' the oertain injury to the rights of' the people oil the upper river resulted in the exolusion of' the irrigated seotlon of' the upper river fran the plans. Neither of those involved the Commeroe Clause of' the Constitution, however. When Congress legislates under the terms of that provision, there is no review, even in the oourts. It will have aoted in its independent oapaoity and its de- tennination that the J~kansas is navi~able-.would oarry a f'inality whioh would be .fatal to the rights of Colorado's water users. It must not be pennitted. An eduoational movement must be launohed to oonvinoe the Congress of the f'olly of' the passage of' this bill without; amend- ments. Further, it must be shown that the growth of' one-third of' the United States will be hln~ered and the benef'its already enjoyed destroyed if the oon- ditions on the upper and lower rivers are not reoognized. This problem extends far beyond the 1 1mi ts of' the basins of' the Arkansas and the White. In. faot, the geographioal limitations c:.f the problem do not even approximate its probable grave ef'feots whioh make up the pioture. The passage of the bill will involve not only the people now living on the upper rivers but will inf'luenoe and modify the lives of' millions of' others who might otherwise enjoy the benefits of irrigation in the arid west. When the irrigated West is retarded in the production of' f'oodstuf'f's the entire nation will f'eel the impact. We are going to f'aoe plenty of problems in the ~ars ahead without multiplying unneoessary new ones. There are inen in the anned forces who are interested in the oontinuation of the manner of lif'e whioh they knew and whioh they were obliged to leave. It is for the proteotion of' that Way of Lif'e upon whioh this oountry. was built that they are fighting. Let us consult their wishes.-their desires--f'or the future--their rights as Amerioans who oannot protect themselves. now. Advise yourselves of' the .faots. And when you have them tell your neighbors.