| OCR Text |
Show 144 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER most part with our other organizations who share our position, and who, in fact, led us into taking this." When the round ended, Brower was still on his feet, though groggy from the blows he had received. Watkins appeared to be a man wilting under the combined weight of anger and frustration. He was smart enough to realize that he had got from Brower nothing in the way of an admission that would show a behind-the- scenes coalition between conservationists and California. What Watkins didn't know was that both the conser- vationists and California interests considered an amal- gamation of their forces unwise. They had purposely avoided it. The conservationists were not opposing the entire project. The Colorado River Board of California saw no justification for basing its opposition on the in- vasion of a national monument, unless that invasion directly affected California's Colorado River water rights. Obviously each could appreciate the opposition engendered by the other, but neither sought an alliance which would in any manner link the efforts of one with those of the other. No other senator came forward to help Watkins. He was left alone before the onslaughts of the opponents. The other senators obviously did not care what the opposition said. Let them rave. The matter was cut and dried. Watkins was left to take the punishment alone. Half a dozen conservationists were waiting to testify, and summoning them before him, Watkins asked if they would agree to having their statements printed in the record in large type. They agreed, realizing the futility of objecting, and handed them to the clerk.158 "Now," Watkins said with obvious relief, "I think we have had all the witnesses except the witnesses from |
