The Fallon Standard

THE SIGN OF THE TIMES
From the recent activities in the
reclamation business east and west.
most particularly east, there is the
sign of the times in the air. Another
presidential campaign is coming with
the next year, and it is rapidly getting
to that mark. Senators are out
shouting their reforms, the departments
are perking up a bit. and the
civil service code is disregarded in
order to build up political fences.
The recent visits of men high in
the appointive force of the bureau.
and low in agricultural sense, only
goes to strengthen the argument that
it is politics and not the farmer that
is on their mind.
Some knowledge of the recommendations
that have been made Is public
property and if such were given
broadcast it would not sound particularly
flattering on paper. On several
occasions during the present
year fly-by-the-night visits have been
made to this project along with the
others. In some instances perfectly
good democrats have made way for
just as good republicans, and to date
none of the projects have benefited
by the transfer of politics and men.
What has happened on other projects
will most likely come to pass here.
as one does not have to go back very
far to remember when Mr. Daugherty
upset all precedent and dismissed
commissioned civil service democrats
to make room for republicans, which
personally we believe is good politics
and should have been followed
as religiously by the democrats during
their eight years.
Even Senator Oddie is throwing
out a line of "bull"' that sounds good
on paper. and while everyone hopes
that he can do something to help
this particular project. we would advise
him to first read some of the
recent recommendations that have
emanated from some of the "personal"
friends of the secretary who have
spent the whole of twenty-four hours
in Fallon investigating conditions.
The senator would have the government
keep its word with the settlers
and project people. If he will
investigate he will find that there
is as much chance of the government
keeping its word on that score as
there is of Germany paying her debt
in gold. Any time your Uncle Samuel
rebates the difference between forty
cents and two dollars on water. and
other items in proportion, we contend
that the junior senator will
have to chloroform the secretary of
the treasury. jimmy his way through
the vault and then run the gauntlet
of guards and others before he can
get out with a dollar.
During the next several months
the papers will be humming with
the good things the powers that are
in will do for the people. especially
the farmer, and undoubtedly the
next congress will be in line, as the
farmer. when not too busy. votes.
The injection of politics into the
reclamation service has been felt for
some time past. It is remembered
that Secretary Work dismissed an
engineer to make room for a politician,
that other reforms of like nature
stand today and more are to
follow. It is but a sign of the times,
and all the "kidding" this side of
Washington won't remit a dollar to
the farmers. and if any of them really
mean business let them endeavor
to bring settlers to the projects instead
of hoisting the price and breaking
the word of the government to
people who spend their efforts and
dollars in trying to reclaim lands
that should have been as represented.
Good whiskey by the drink sells
for one mark in Germany. Hold
your horses and postpone your departure:
the mark must be gold, else
the drinker would be able to buy
even though he could not consume
them, 100.000.000 drinks for an American
dollar. says the Review-Miner