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Show HUNGRY HORSE PREDICTION 65 It was easy for the Post to identify the California culprit who had made the offer to Pyle "in whispered tones after a water conference in Washington December 3." In fact, Breitenstein helped the Post by informing it that the only California representative at the confer- ence was Ely. Governor Knight promptly denied in the press that any such under-the-table offer had been made by any- one from California, but the statement didn't quiet either Arizona or Upper Basin newspapers. They con- tinued to have a field day, condemning the "ruthless water interests" 77 for perpetrating "nefarious" and "rapacious" schemes, and attempting to "evade and nullify a solemn agreement among states." 78 While Ely had long before learned to brush off attacks by adversaries, made in both newspapers and the Con- gressional Record, he was not a little astonished by the viciousness of the fantasy Pyle had concocted, and he summoned to his office John U. Terrell, Washington representative of the Colorado River Association of Cali- fornia and public relations consultant. " What do you think of this? What about my answer- ing him?" he asked. "A straight out and out denial at this time will not accomplish what you want," Terrell replied.79 "Before you do anything else, I would suggest that you write to Pyle and ask him point blank whether he does or does not claim that you made him an offer of some kind. If he says no, it discredits Breitenstein and the others, the whole story. If he says yes, then the issue is joined be- tween Pyle and yourself, and you can give him a factual reply." This procedure was followed. Pyle never answered |