Reverend Emile A. Barrat was appointed as pastor of Costilla in January 1916. Originally from France, he was one of 114 French clergymen sent to New Mexico by the United States Catholic Church. During his time as Reverend in Costilla, he became a spokesman for the rights of the citizens.

Octaviano Larrazolo had acted as the citizens’ lawyer in cases closer to the turn of the century. Barrat reached out to Larrazolo, now Governor, in 1919, asking for his help with the struggle over water rights. At the time, there was an order for water to be diverted from the watersheds near Costilla into a dam that was being built for residents in Colorado. Unfortunately, despite Barrat's and Larrazolo's efforts, the water was ultimately diverted.

The citizens of Costilla and Reverend Barrat wrote this in one letter to Larrazolo, as a challenge for him to help their cause:

"Lo que un Gobernador de Colorado robo en tiempos pasados, otro Gobernador de Nuevo Mexico, puede recobrar."

"What one Governor of Colorado stole in times past, another Governor of New Mexico can return."