The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17
CHICAGO MEN THE HOSTS
A Banquet to the Illinois Congress
siOnal Delegation.
Plan for n Canal 20 the Mis~i<sipPi
Discussed in After-Diuner Speech-
cs-Endorsement of the Project
by senator CuIiom aud Others
Government Aid Hoped For.

night by representatives or the Illinois
River Improvement Association in honor
OF the Illinois delegation in Congress was
in many ways one Of the most perfectly
carried out affairs which have so far
marked the poIitico-sociaI season of the
Capital The floral decorations laid upon
the tables which were in an adapted form
Of gridiron were superb in their artistic
simplicity Long sprays OF American
Beauty roses. Marechal Niels. and poppies
Of variegated hues were cast between
rose hued candelabra the full length Of
. each section of the tables, while ferns and
smilaX lent their feathery aid to the floral
tout ensemble. and an orchestra rendered
delightful music from behind a screen Of
palms in the foyer of the banquet hall.
The Chicago delegation is here in the
interest Of an appropriation from Congress
for a ship canal from the Lakes to the
Gulf of Mexico. and will make a strong
plea to have the waterway extended from
LockpOrt to the Mississippi. The business
men of Illinois raised a fund of $4,000 to
allow the delegation to come to Wash
ington
The first speaker introduced by the toast
master. Frank Wenter. who is Chairman Of
the Committee on Federal Relations, and
who spoke glowingly Of the hopes Of the
Chicago Canal as a future perfected water
way to the Gulf OF Mexico. was Senator
Shelby NJ Cullom. who said:
Away back in '75 l made speech in
Ottawa Ill. in which said was anxious
for the construction OF the Hennepiu
Canal. and then said that hoped to see
the day when great canal would float
upon its bosom ships from the Great Lakes
to the Gulf Of Mexico. / said in that speech
that | wished and longed for that, and say
now that ever since l have been wishing
the same thing l want to live to see free
transportation from the Lakes to the Gulf
let il cost S25 900 900 or 1000 600 as II
may In my Judgment the canal ought to
be completed, as It has been SO magniti-
Gently begun. and In the better Judgment OF
the great mass of the legislative body. 1t
is. l think. seen in that light. We want
that canal built; for the best interests of
the world at large II ought TO be built. and
/ am sure il will be built We want our
productions to go TO he wide world by the
simplest and cheapest way. and the CHI
cagO Canal is that way. When the city OF
Chicago has expended $35. 600, 600 for this
magnificent artificial river 10 is a small
matter for the United States to undertake
to supply the trihing balance. I want 10
see the products Of the Mississippi Valley
got out into the world OF commerce in the
cheapest and most accessible way, and
can see no better way AZ hand than the
way you ChicagOans have inaugurated. Let
us look to the development of our internal
commerce. and we have solved the whole
problem Of our commercial relations with
the world. Get your goods TO the Gulf and
YOU have done the act
Senator Cullom retired early. and the
next speaker was Reg resentative Cannon
who made a speech from party stand
point eulogizing the expansion policy OF
the Administration and applying the same
principle to the canal system which the
company had in mind. In part he said;
BE not fearful: he not dismayed. The
great contest which preserved the Union
shall not be forgotten. II was vaged for
Just such principles as these. and so cure
as YOU have so far advanced the struggle
for commercial recognition, just so sure
will we in Congress help you and see thaL
you get what We can by right give you.
The markets OF the world are ours If we
can reach them by the cheapest way. and
we are inclined to think that this is one Of
the ways. There has been an organization
OF the House and the Senate along the
lines OF policy which will see that the
welfare of no community is overlooked,
aud it is upon this that you may build. We
will march right along, We'll meet every
condition and well open that door in China
which has for so long been bone Of in
ternational contention.
There are 900. 600 900 people there walt
ing for our productions, and We are going
to give them the benefit Of our labor
through the Chicago and the Nicaragua
Canals"
Following Representative Cannon came
T. r. Carter Chairman Of the Finance
Committee Of the Board OF Trustees Of the
Chicago Sanitary Committee. who advo-
Gated the extension of the canal at Federal
expense. and brought statistics to bear TO
uphold what he held to be a Just claim
for aid.
Charles Littleheld was introduced rs
the worthy follower OF James G. Bdine.
in the House. and made witty speech Of
four minutes duration. although be in
sisted to the company that he had Occur
pled the allotted ten minutes due each
sneaker. He said that a trifing ap-
propriatiun Of some twenty-fOur o.
twenty-five millions was a small mat
ter when it was taken into consid-
GRAFTON that the stupendOus result
would be the linking OF the two gigantic
waterways OF the country into bond
which would connect our inner seaboard
towns with the tidewaters Of the Atiant.l
and the Pacific. We all appreciate the
magnificent resources the central states
have to offer 10 the world. and if you con
vince us thoroughly in open meeting
you'll have a unanimous vote for your
project
Representative Littledelj was followed
by Isaac Taylor, Commander Lawrence
McGann. Amos J. Cummings. Walter
Reeves. William Lorimer and Senator
Mason. each of whom spoke Of the canal
as if his whole heart had never conceived
anything more to be desired by the waiting