Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-01
CANAL EXPONEN1S IN SESSION,
The National Convention at New
Orleans Opened.
Delegates Present from Nearly Every
State in the Union.
The Object Is to Get the Government to
Back The Nicaragua Enterprise,
and Thus Place IL Under
American Control.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
New ORLEANS, Nov. 30.-The nationa
convention in the interest of the Mica
ragua canal opened here today. The
convention is the outgrowth of a move
ment in favor of the canal, inaugursted
on the Pacific coast. In response to the
desire of commercial bodies of Sar
Francisco, Governor Markham last
March called on the governors OF the
various states to appoint delegates to a
convention to be held in st. Louis, tc
consider the means for forwarding the
work under national auspices. That
convention met last June, and, before
closing, arranged for the present con.
vention.
The general idea is to induce congress
to recognize the canal company by guar
anteeing it's paper, and to extend gov
ernment protection over it to prevent
any foreign interference in its
management detrimental to American
interests. This course is urged, not at
the instance of the canal company,
which thinks it can raise the necessary
amount for its construction-$100,0 ,000,-
O00-but on the general grounds that
this country should control in ito man
agement. A bill to that end is now
pending in congress.
The convention promises to be large
and representative. The states repre-
eented 80 far, with the number of dele
gates, follows:
Arkansas, 2; Alabama, 2; California,
IL; District of Columbia, IL; Florida,
16; Georgia, s; Illinois, IL; Iowa, IA !;
Indiana, 2; Kentucky, 8; Kansas, IL ;
Louisiana, $50; Mississippi, 19; Maine,
2; Missouri, 8; Michigan, 3; New York,
15; Nebraska, l North Carolina, / Ohio,
z; Oregon, 2; Pennsylvania, 6; South
Carolina, II; Tennessee, 10; Texas, Is !;
Virginia, 8, making total this morning
The convention was called to order by
President Il. j. Odenthal OF the board OF
trade, in Odd Fellows hall, which was
magnificently decorated for the occa-
sion. The American and Nicaragua
colors prevailed. An eagle with out
stretched wings united the twain. The
orchestra also played the national
hymns of the two countries, and Mica
raguan air, arranged for the occasion,
was cheered and encored. On the plat
form were city and state officials, in
Guiding Governor Murphy j. Foster,
Acting Mayor Irwin Jamison, Hon.
George T. Converse, permanent chair
man of the st. Louis convention, and
Governor Fleming of Florida.
DIR. B. M. Palmer of the First Pres
byterian church offered prayer, and
President Odenthal gave formal well
come for the board of trade City Attor-
ney E. A. O'Sullivan followed for the
municipality, and Governor Foster for
the state. Mr.. Converse replied for the
convention.
At the afternoon session the reports
OF the different committees were
adopted. All the resolutions offered
will 60 to the committee on resolutions
without debate.
Judge Jones of Little Rock delivered
lengthy address, reviewing the canal
question from an international stand
point.
One of the leading matters discussed
this morning was resolution which
President j. G. Clarke of the Mobile and
Ohio railroad will offer. 1t recognizes
the canal measure as national one. as
having been endorsed by both of the
great political parties, and provides that
600 bonds, the latter to be used as q
basis for new national banks. No party
shall own more than 1000 shares of stock
in the concern; percentage OF the tolls
to be deposited annually in the United
States treasury.
At the evening session Judge M. M.
Estee of California spoke at length. He
reviewed the growth of the idea OF con-
structing the canal across the sthmus,
from it's earliest inception in the 10Th
century, and laid great stress upon the
Importance attached to the project by
the nations of Europe, particularly by
Great Britain. He cited the utter
ances of eminent Americans who
supported the plan, and said now it
was regarded by leading men of both
political parties as an important work.
It's construction would be national
glory; it's failure national defeat. He
gave summary of the provisions of the
bill introduced by Senator Morgan of
Alabama, to extend government aid to
the enterprise, and concluded with q
statement that the construction of the
canal was a matter of national honor.
If it was not built with American capital
it would be by foreign capital, and that
meant to this country the isolation OF
an important section in war and the loss
of commerce in peace.
w. B. Cabell spoke in behalf of the
delegation from the District of Colum-
bia, urging that an influential delega-
ton be sent to Washington to urge
upon congress the Importance of the
project and the necessity for action.
s. A. Jones of Florida depicted the
advantages of the canal from a southern
standpoint.
Letters expressing interest in and
sympathy with the work of the conven.
tion from many prominent men, traffic
associations, ETC., were read.
Official Election Returns.
ST.. PAUL, Nov. 30.-Official returns
from Minnesota: Republicans, 1872, ,736