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Show 204 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER were ways in which his powerful organization could aid California. He conferred with high ranking adminis- tration officers, one of whom was Dr. John R. Steelman, a presidential adviser. Shapiro's voice was angry as he told the press: "It is evident that the administration considers California politically impotent and timid. The people of California are not enjoying this kind of treatment, and do not propose to put up with it. "If my accusations are not true, the administration would not refuse to take decisive action in Southern California's desperate water controversy with Arizona. The administration has prevented adjudication of this dispute. Contrary to the best interests of ten million people of California, the administration has proposed a billion dollar irrigation project which would give more water to a few farmers in Arizona and leave millions of people in California without water to meet needs that are increasing daily. "I believe the administration may soon find out that California is not politically impotent." 289 C. J. Haggerty, an afl director, also conferred with Dr. Steelman in Washington, and afterward wrote Steelman a letter in which he also criticized the admin- istration's attitude toward California. "I should like to reiterate," he told Steelman, "that vital political issues are involved, and I believe these should have the thoughtful consideration of the ad- ministration. "There are 600,000 people in the whole state of Ari- zona. The Bureau of Reclamation now proposes to repudiate the California contracts, and take the Colorado River water for irrigation in Arizona. |