In 1924, those areas was hit by a drought, and both unions considered it was because the damaged forests had no longer absorbed nor contained water; although the unions took action separately, in 1925 the petition including thousands of signatures of the farmers and peasants and others in Gunma Prefecture was submitted to the House of Peers, the House of Representatives, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Agricultural Affairs.
1924年には干ばつがあり、これは、水源地の足尾の山林が荒廃して保水能力を失ったためだと考えた両組合は、それぞれ別個に活動を行い、1925年には群馬県側の農民ら数千人の署名が集められ、貴族院、衆議院、内務大臣、農務大臣宛てに請願書が提出される。