Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-12
THE OMAHA CONGRESS.
THE BUSINESS DONE THERE AS
TOLD BY A TEXAN.
Mr.. o. w. Crawford Eulogistic of tho Pa.
trlotism of Delegates to the Con-
gross-A Pretty Little Fight
Won BY Velasco.

Mr.. o. W. Crawford Of Velasco was in
| the city yesterday, en- route from the COM
| water. A Post man met him and he talked
; about where he had been and what was
| done there, and what he wanted, and what
| he expected, and what he knew was going
| to happen, and all in a most interesting
| manner. In reply to a suggestion he said ::
You want me to tell you about the COM
merclal congress at Omaha, do yous 1t was
the third meeting of the ns-Mississippi
congress. All three of these meetings have
been successes. Into the deliberations and
discussions at none of them did there creep
any politics-with acrimonious variations.
The session at Omaha was dignified and
earnest convention of business men from all
the West. Think of what this congress
was composed. Prominent and busy men
Of affairs from Texas, New Mexico, Cali
fornia. Oregon, Minnesota and all the states
and territories inside and nearer, meeting
to discuss. not politics, not religion, but the
living and imminent questions OF business
economics of interest to the trans issis-
sippi section. Leaving their private bust
ness, paying their own expenses, they trav-
eled, many of them, thousands of miles to
counsel together for the common good of
their section of country.
The feeling which actuated these linen is
so little removed from patriotism that the
distance is too short to be measured in
inches.
The people of the corn states introduced
the question of corn as food. All the con-
venIion entered earnestly and heartily into
the discussion and consideration of the
subject.
The silver states were there to urge the
importance of silver measures, and the del
egates from all the other states gave a
respectful hearing to their propositions, en-
tering zealously into an exhaustive can
vass of the subject from the stand
point OF greatest good to each sepa-
rate section of the territory repre-
scented. The claims of the Northwestern
states for national aid in lettering trans
portation on the great lakes was elo-
Quently and strongly put before the con-
gress. These claims met with the honest
sympathy of every delegate on the floor.
The champions of gulf deep water ports
were there, and the news that deep water
on the Texas coast was now fact brought
cheers from every state. A more attentive
hearing than was given to Governor Hub
bard, VINO told the good news, was not ac-
corded to any speaker or subject during the
congress. and the burst of genuine rejoicing
which arose from every part of the great
audience told how keenly alive are all the
states tributary to the Texas gulf coast to
the necessity for deep water navigation.
The Omaha meeting was success. A
more earnest, dignifed convention of men l
never attended.
Only one thing occurred during the entire
four days session to mar the proceedings,
and that was the bitter fight which Calves
ton and Arkansas made against the passage
of the Velasco resolutions. We all voted
for the resolutions offered by Galveston
delegates urging congress to provide by uu-
delayed and adequate appropriations for the
uninterrupted and rapid completion of the
jetties at that point Of course they have
claimed to all the world that the appropria-
ton of 81, 200 900 has been made and that it
is ample, but if they wanted to urge con-
gress to be sure and make an appropriation
which it had already made, why, we were
willing.
Their resolutions were passed without
negative vote.
We then offered set of brief resolutions
which simply congratulated the people of
Velasco and Texas upon the attainment of
seventeen and one-half feet of water at
Velasco, provided, however, that seventeen
and one-half feet had been obtained. Gal
veston's delegate had fought the resolution
acrimoniously in the committee ON resolu-
tions, but it carried with only two dissent
ing votes. Now that it was up before the
congress for passage, the head of the Ar
ansas delegation attacked it savagely.
Discovering, from the applauses which
greeted the speakers who defended the
resolutions, that the convention was in
sympathy with VelaSco, they tried to adj
jouru the meeting,
In this they failed. Iowa, Kansas and
Missouri delegates defended Velasco and
expressed their surprise at the ungenerous
stand made by Arkansas aud Galveston.
The motion 20 adjourn was voted down.
Missouri moved the previous question and
the Velasco resolutions We're passed with
only one negative vote outside the Calves
ton and Arkansas delegations. The shout
of applause which greeted the result showed
the friendly feeling which the congress
had for deep water, Velasco and fair play.
The next meeting will be in February
next at New Orleans. l believe it will be
more largely attended and the Importance
of its work will be greater than that of any
previous session of the congress.
Excuse me, Mr.. Reporter, but before you
let me go ! want to do what am continu-
ally accused Of doing, that is, advertise We
lasco. / might as well Gown the corn" 1 |
want to tell you how friendly all the great
of the West are to the new deep |
water port. The winter tourist rates just |
put on will increase by hundreds the attend |
ance at the public sale which occurs on De- |
cember and TO-
Excursion parties to the great deep water |
jubilee, which the Velascoites will indulge |
in on those dates, are now being formed in |
Sedalia, Davenport, Chicago and Denver |
and many smaller points. The whole West |
wants to see the port of Velasco. They |
want to see deep draught ships actually 1
pass through the jetties and over the bar |
and on that occasion they will have that /
Houston Post, Novem-
Der 3.