OCR Text |
Show exercise of self-preservation and development, without interfering with a similar enjoyment by other states, free from imposition of any foreign control or servitudes except those conceded by the compact* To what degree a lesser citizen of the Republic may free himself from the influence of the ambitions and whisperings of idealists and persons in Governmental depart- ments, and rise to the greater and imperative task of leading both the States and the Nation into a more perfect accord, remains to be demonstrated, and upon the President will rest the responsibility of the ultimate selection. In his wise exercise of this great duty we have full confidence0 The future alone will reveal the complete or partial success or failure of the present undertakings,. To what degree, if at all, the joint commissions to whom the important duties of concluding interstate conven- tions respecting three rivers have been assigned, may succeed and may there- by bring the States and the United States into better accord and fix their permanent relations and respective jurisdictions upon a firmer basis, lies first within the keeping of the /..ood faith, frank counsel, patience and broadmindedness of the representatives so entrusted with the duties of com- missioners. Assurance is ample that the commissioners for the States hare accepted their appointments with'a full comprehension of their opportunities and duties* .In any event, those who undertake the task may conclude their efforts with a. personal assurance of having contributed their humble part; toward some ultimate oolution of our interstate water problems through dip- lomatic channels and of having partially arrested the influences of cleavage which have been slowly but surely weakening the common ties which bind tine States to each other and to the Federal Union. But the States and the Union are perpetual and the rivers will flow on forever. And however ill advised the ambitious policies of persons heretofore in charge of certain Governmental agencies may have been, the present trend of State and Rational thought would indicate the rapidly ap- proaching termination of improper National interference with State affairs and an awakening of the States to a firm resumption of their sovereign powers to administer their own affairs and to settle their interstate dif- ferences by treaties, to the end that this shallcontinue to be not only &¦ nation of equal States with equal powers and equal opportunity of exercising those powers but as well "an indestructible Union, composed of indestructible States-" APPENDIX History of Proceedings by Colorado River States Leading to Interstate Compact Legislation SALT LAKE CONFERENCE January 18-21, 1919 # a conference between the representatives of the seven Colorado River States, to-wit, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming was called by the Governor of Utah for the purpose of discussing questions relating to the utilization of the |