The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-11
WATERWAYS CONVENTION.


The convention q delegates from various
ssri largely attended,. Credentials were
rcsenteti fully 92 8 peffsons from Minneso-
8e, Montana. Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin,
kansas, Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa,
minnesota sent $3.50 deleRates. There we've
distinguished people present includ-
I1ng governors, congressman, ETC., from the
states named. The convention was held
(which was elegantly decorated, the position
of each delegate being designated By a ban.
Eher,. rs in national conventions. As the
delegates took their seats, it wits noticed
that they were, as whole, men ot mark.
The convention was called to order by
Governor Hubbard OF Minnesota, who, af-
ter prayer by Rev. Dr. Damp, deliYered'an
&address. The Mayor Of st. Paul, Hon.
Edmund Rice, then wclcpmcd the delegates
10 the city. = = =
Hon. WIN. Bross OF Chicago Was elected
temporary chairmaa andG. c. Sturtevanto oi
8 HMinneapolis temporary secretary. After
discussion q resolutioniwas adopted: That
the committee on credentials, rules and or
ERanixations consist Of two each. .6ntl the
comlnitteeson resolutions Of three each from
Il the various states and territories, the
members Of the coinpittec to be chosen by
R the, delegations and announced by their
Isnatius Donnelly secured the floor, and;
in spite of'opposition, licll.it until he had
delivered an elaborate series of resolutions,
which were referred. to the leopmittce on
4 resolutions.
u The committee on credentials reportcd
I the names OF 92G persons who were ell
titled to seats. 80. ,-.-.o
n While waiting for the committees to re.
I, port Congressman Murphy from Daven-
port, Iowa, made il speech, mostly intavor
of the Hennipin cahsa. ~.
There was, a long discussion OF the re port
+ OF the committee on rules, which gave only
g ten votes b each State,an Territory.
q The large delegation from Minnesota, wis
4 regarded as dangcrOust0 harmlnious nc.
I tion and unjust to delegates from other
4 States. Finally that obnoxious rule was
stricken out, leaving every delegate Al vote.
Tle comI3ittcc OH permanent 'organizl.
u lion }hen reported. the following:
81 Prdsidcnt-Aiaj. William Warner, Kan
4 ras City, Mo-.
& iowa. -,
Honorary Vice Presilents.Iowa, P. G.
& tiailingall, C. NJ. NiIler, Senator Miles;
y Dakota, JohRson Nieaxens, A. Bpynton, $.
9, Lockhart; Minnesota, Mark II. Dunnell.
E. w. Durantt 3. CIR Comstock; Wisconsin,
l.ucus Fairchiid, y. A. 'MclG5naIti; U III.
I Jngraan; kansas. ID. A. Millington, j. ID.
/ Barker, c. +. clifford: Missouri ]. q.
4 Wear, II. N. Phillips, james McClnnc;
4 Candel, George H. Ritchey. w. II. Crockcr.
Secretary-Platt b. Walker Of Minncap.
a. Assistant sseretarls~-r. A. Fitzpatrick,
+ Kansas; Pitt Bartlett, Wisconsin; j.. F.
3 Wright, Illinois,, .....,
Recording clerk-F. A. crittsndcn, iii.
N:.jor William Warner who is congress-
man.. and an excellent presiding officer,
I mnde q short speech OH taking the chair.
The.rcpOrt of the committee on perllu..
5 ncnt organization fell like IL thindcrclap
upon the ear Of the temporary chairman.
Mr.. Eross took the carlicst:opportunity to
Z rise to an explanation, and, after consider
able "beating around the busl," it became
evident that the gentlemin had been given
to.understand that ho was to be made
permanent chairman OF the convention,
and, in order to be well prepared for that
emergency, he had written out an elaborate
address OF acceptance which he held up in
{ printed slips, with the remark that 7O
( copies had been distributed to the papers
.,f the associatedpress. President Warner,
however, pleasantly invited Gov. Bross To
!, sead the address which was well received
4 buttons met and had Il busy time until nf
I Ter midnight in hearing remarks and in
endeavoring to formulate material for ac.
ton by the convention.
On the opening Of the second days scs-
sion tile committee on resolutions were not
ready to report. They were ia session for
some ten hours, all told. The different
delegations nppeured and placed before
! them large piles of documents, call.
ing for the:improvcments OF existing water
ways OF the Northwest, All had 81 respect
ful hearing and then the committee went
into secret session to silt out of the mass
Of applications before thom those measures
which alone possessed merit. A sub-com-
nlittee was appointed and was in session
during the entire forenoon. Therefore the
time was spent by the convention in
listening to running debates and
speeches from Mayor Chase OF Omaha.
Ignatius Donnelly, Senator Eustis OF
Louisiana, Congressman Hatch of No.,
Gen. Carr Of Galesburg, III; etc. In the
afternoon it was reported that tho COM
mittee On. resolutions was prepared to re-
port, and W.. II. Bcadle OF Dakota
stepped to the platform and read, in
clear, ringing voice, the long-looked- for
resolutions, while everybody opened eyes,
cars and mouth to take them all in. The
resOlutions were as follows:
Whereas; In order to secure to the pro-
ducers in all parts Of til. country the-higl,.
cstpossible return for their products and
the most favorable exchange of the same
and our proper relations to the conditions
Of foreign markets, it is essential that the
cost Of the transportation be reduced to
theminimum: therefore
Resolved, That the imnleaiate andcon,.
eNsive.i,nprovement OF the Mississppi
and Missouri rivers and their navigable
tributaries to the fullest extent OF their i'm.
prOvable capacity, in ordcr.to secure snie,
permanent and reliable channels OF suiTi-
cient depth and breath to afford at all
seasons Of the year ample facilities for the
water transportation Of the immense pro.
duetion Of the Mississippi valley, is dc.
manded Of the government OF the United
States by every consideration Of CONNER
cial. agricultural and social: atl lyancement,
and by Justice, and an enlightened policy OF
promoting the prosperity and defense oi
the nation. :,
Resolved, That VIC cfavorany meritorious
project for increased water transportation
facilities by which the general interests ol
the whole country may be conserved, and
to the careful consideration and intelligent
I. support OF congress; but we deem the i'm.
mediate and permanent Improvement oi
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and
their navigable tributaries, according to
some comprehensive plan, embracing the
/ whole subject, Ofparamonnt Importance.
Resolved, That the Mississippi river,
from the Falls OF St. Anthony to the Gull
Of Mexico, is the great national highway
Z for the commerce OF the West; and the
distance between the said falls and the
mouth OF the Ohio river being more than
half the distance Of the navigable water oi
said river.
Resolved, That sufficient approrpria.
tions should he made to give ut least
six feet Of water in. the Mississippi river
from Cairo to the Falls. OF st. Anthony
at the earliest practicable day, and that
we urge upon congress that an inmedi-
hte appropriation he made for he amount
ilecessary TO complete said work; and we
also favor.cohtinued liberal appropriations
by congress for the Improvement OF the
mississippi from Cairo to the gulf. 'i'! 8
Resolved, That appropriations should
pc emade by congress- for the Improvement
), of nayigation Of the Mississippi to the nnv-
iSabie sources thereof, in accordance with
the RECOMMENDATION OF the government en-!
siheets, ahd We commend to congress the
careful consideration of the report 81 tile
resident engineers to the war department
Of the reservoir system Of the upper Mis-
sissip2i.