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Show THE THREE-RING CIRCUS 173 of the project, and he then called upon several witnesses who continued to paint dire pictures of Arizona's eco- nomic future if the project were not promptly authorized. "In my own case," said Francis I. Curtis, a farmer,227 "it will mean the loss of the lifetime effort of two gener- ations, my father's and mine." "The cost will be paid back to the government time and time again," said A. Van Wagenen, Jr., a lawyer. "This cannot be denied." 228 He then admitted under question by Rep. Poulson that he had not even read the Reclamation Bureau's report on the project. Another lawyer, Jesse A. Udall, enlightened the com- mittee with the statement that "products of Arizona's agriculture are prolific . . . and contribute greatly to the health and well-being of the American people." 229 John M. Jacobs, a farmer, thought that approval of the project would "go a long way in the next few years in helping to solve the national problem of the care of the Indian tribes." 230 Another farmer, Victor I. Gorbell, declared emotion- ally that failure to approve the project would mean "the raising of taxes, the closing of schools, empty stores and houses, and everything else that goes with a de- cadent condition. The only things that increase under such conditions are poverty and crime." 231 Rep. Lemke appeared to have all he could stand of the tearful pleas.232 "I am not concerned any further about the need," he told Murdock. "I was convinced of that last year. I was fully convinced also that the engineers know how to build this dam without my help. I am still interested to know that if we build this dam, you will go and get the water, and that you are entitled to it. I have not heard about that ... I cannot |
