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Show 222 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER When it came to a showdown battle, McCarran deserted his own troops. Up to the minute S. 75 was called for a final vote, McCarran had fought it. But suddenly he reversed himself. Obviously, his own per- sonal interests were greater than those of his own state, whose officials from the governor down had openly op- posed S. 75. Hay den did not do so well in the Midwest and the East. Only five Eastern senators voted for S. 75, while thirteen voted against it. At first glance it appeared that Arizona had won a smashing victory, but those wise in the ways of Congress saw otherwise. "Wait until it gets to the House," they said. "It won't be as easy there. The House is different, and the logrolling and horse trading is tougher. Arizona has two congressmen out of 435. And Hayden is not a congressman." California had twenty-three congressmen, and Ne- vada had one. On the House Interior Committee, Cali- fornia had Norris Poulson and Clair Engle, and with them was Congressman Baring of Nevada. These forces looked to their weapons, wondering if they would be powerful enough. As the smoke of battle cleared from the Senate the faces of the opposing forces were turned toward the House. There the next major engagement, if there was to be one, must take place. Clearly, Murdock, Hayden and McFarland did not like the situation in the House Interior Committee. Opposition was strong, and there was no way of gauging that strength with exactness. Therefore, Murdock, |
