St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-12
THE RIVER CONVENTION.

While the proposition to hold a waterway
convention in this city was being discussed
among ourselves, the interests which were
hostile to it were at work endeavoring to
defeat the call for the convention, and came
within an ace of doing it. But for the
timely action of the chamber of commerce
of this city, and the prompt response to the
resolution adopted by the chamber by the
governor of this state, another convention
would have been called which would have
been held in the interest of the lower river
country to the exclusion of the upper river.
Now another danger threatens. 1t is
reasonably apparent that an effort is being
made to pack the convention in the interest
of the railroads. and for the purpose of de-
feating the object for which it was called.
The governor of Nebraska takes the lead in
this movement and has appointed a delega-
ton from that state which is VIGOROUSLY
hostile to the improvement of the river.
The gentlemen composing the Nebraska
delegation are said to be i'm some way or
other connected with the railroad syndi-
Gates. The farmers of Nebraska have been
betrayed by their governor and will be apt
w hSNtb elA &c bii liiil III NlAt AAANlNs III
the list of delegates named by the mayor of
Fargo to represent that part OF Dakota ap-
pears the name of the president of the
Northern Pacific Elevator company. So it
is reasonably certain that the effort is being
made to place the convention in control of
the enemies of the upper river improvement
Another evidence of this fact is the humbly
submissive spirit of the New Orleans press.
The Times-Democrat regrets that lack of
unity which it thinks ought to prevail,
yet does not see any cause for i'll
feeling or actual Quarrelng or Opposi-
ton on the part of river interests.
So far so good. We can readily concur with
our New Orleans contemporary that there is
no cause for antagonism and the people of
the Northwest are willing TO form any sort
of combination or alliance with the lower
river interests that will be beneficial to rs.
But in view of the fact that our interests
have suffered because the lower river inter
eSts have been better organized and thus
enabled to ''hog the whole persimmon,"
we are disposed to be suspicious of the
manifestations of interest In our convention
coming from that source. The Times
Democrat says: 'We think it would show
a good feeling and proper spirit if the
executive committee on the improvement of
Western waterways would show their rec
IGNITION of the convention to be held in st.
Paul, and their approval of the purposes
for which it is called-the improvement of
the Northwestern waterways, and partic-
ularly of the upper Mississippi-if they
would send delegation to st. Paul. The
aims of the convention there are manifestly
within the purpose and program of the COM
mittee; they have the same object in view,
even if it is not quite as broad. and is de-
voted more specially to the Improvement Of
certain of the Western waterways rather
than that of all of them, on the broad ma
tional basis adopted as the platform
by the waterways convention. Such
delegation would, we are certain,
be welcomed at ST. Paul-indeed the exc
cutive committee were consulted by the st.
Paul chamber of commerce before any call
was issued. Its presence there would tend
to harmonic the various interests of the
valley and to secure unity of action in the
matter of river improvements. 1t would
prevent we believe, any tendency toward
disintegration and show the valley united
in the next congress in all that concerns
the interests of its twenty odd states and
territories"
The executive committee on the improve
ment of Western waterways will receive
cordial welcome from this city. and we will
be glad to receive any suggestions that they
have to make. AT the same time it must
be understood that the convention is to be
held in the interest of the people of the
Northwest and for the purpose of securing
proper and needed improvements on the
Upper Mississippi river. If the convention
should be captured by interests hostile to
the purposes for which it was called. then
we suggest that another convention be
called Immediately thereafter, to be COM
posed of delegates chosen by the people
themselves.