The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-23
AslArIc coMMERcn.
senator Fulton Tells What the Rail-
roads should Do for Oregon.
slue Mountain American.

ne NAAliIlNlAN va kAAN AAAAAAA - MNc'
tined to be the prise ~ che centuries.
Immediately after Mr. Mckinley was
elected the second time. the editor ol
the American wrote Senator Z. w, FNl-
ton. OF Astoria. In reference t0 the
state of Oregon inaugurating some sys-
tCmatic effor, 10 get In line 70 properly
engage In the great commercial struggle
about TO be lnaugurated.
After due correspondence which
brought out the two following letters
permission was obtained nom Mr.. F'al.
ton to publish hts reply TO the letter ad-
dressed 10 him by the editor ~ this
paper:
senator Chas. w. Fulton, Astoria, or.
My dear Mr. Fulton: On my arrival
here November %. found your tive
excellent letters. one dated November
70 ana the other November Is. Allow
me 70 thank YOU very sincerely FOR your
complimentary reference "a my paper
and myself The opinion of such men
IN TINS regard is worth more 10 mC
than any money consideration.
am trying 10 build up paper Of
character and absolute reliability.
hear that this reputation is already b.
ginning TO attach generally 20 the
BLUE MOUNTAIN AMERICAN l
am certainly not running Il on a money
making hgsis At present and II get
anything aut of Il Ia the way o. repu-
tation L shall suilice as my reward.
Going hack 20 the campaign. however,
| still insis; thar You are oae II the
powerful factors m having rolled ur the
splendid Republican majority for the
grand old parry" in Oregon.
Touching upoa the question ~ our
trade relations with the Orient find
the proposition large one indeed: and
enc which NAV wen demand the nature
thought OF our best business men and
statesmen.
As has been stated. the commercial
freighied with the greatest possibilities
that have ever come % the Pacific coast.
As has been stated. the commercial
trend OF the times Is hopeful augury
OF a new and astonishing commercial
era for the entire Pacific coast and the
great Northwest There are concealed
the primal conditions of this new sltua-
ton features which Oregon cannot afford
70 ignore In their early inception and
thus ''fddle" while her future oppor-
tunlties are destroyed before her very
eyes.
The best thinkers tell us that the
Isolated man IS a savage. the trading
man Is a civilized man. Just 10 the
isEree that any people are commercial
are they intellectual. educated. progress
sive and free. Commerce Is the magic
wand that transforms everything II
ouchss. He who does most to promote
commerce does most for civilization.
The pages OF history confirm these
Old systems are rapidly
breaking down. old machines becoming
i Solete. The present time, this last
lalf Of the most glorious of all the CEN
urics has done more To emancinate.
o elevate. TO educate. and 10 liberate
hs body and the brain Of the human
are than all the centuries from Yes
,asiaH to Victoria.
While l clo,he the above Idea in the
words Of another, I do so because It is
more forceful and happy than my own
language would b.. The truth remains
he same. We are certainly awakening
o an age Of intellectual and not physl-
al contest. One OF profit and not one Of
'lunder. One OF rivalry and no, one OF
Enlarged and enlightened commerce
5 TO transform the Oriental serf into
citizen, the hovel into a cottage the
)rcVince into a state Commerce knows
10 church. no creed. no color. no na-
ionality. II revolutionizes everything
I touches.
Now the time for which all other
hlngs have existed 80 far as Oregon Is
concerned has come Looking into the
'uture we can see her entering the field
Il commercial greatness and winning
or herself laurels Of a great success.
Sne must not slumber away this oppor-
.unity Her sons should arouse her and
lelp place her vessels OF commerce upon
he high seas OF the Pacific. They
should hasten to put her in touch with
he ineXhaustible commerce OF the ORR
mt and the Philippines. The effort
should not be delayed.
Already. / have been informed. in
'uences are at work and well under way
calculated 10 rob her OF her birthright.
am not Informed as to what Califor-
liSis doing. but Washington Is In a fair
way to step in first after the pool has
been troubled and get the benefit OF
the situation, leaving Oregon to take
her chances in the dim and distant fu
ture. II I am reliably informed, Pres
dent Jim Hill. Of the Great Northern.
has also secured control OF the Northern
Pacific railroad. and Is having ships
Of commerce built whose draughts. II
Is stated. will not permit them 10 enter
Astoria harbor or any but the deepest
harbors.
Two rans-continental lines under his
control and a line OF ships which can
not enter the mouth Of the Columbia.
Seattle would appear to be the "Clty OF
Destiny and Puget Sound the future
mart OF great commercial achievements.
The seriousness Of the situation now be-
comes apparent. With Washington on
the north with such a leverage and
California and San Francisco on the
scnth with their trade partially estab-
lished. Oregon will make but a poor ap-
Dearance in the OncOmming contest. II
she does not intelligently prepare her.
self for a life and death struggle.
You ask that suggest some plan OF
method whereby Oregon's work might
be inaugurated. | have thought OF thi,
matter considerably and with an earn.
est desire to suggest something that
would be Of a lasting benefit to our re.
markable state. | submit the following
merely as a modest suggestion, and az.
ter you have duly considered IT, de-
sire you to write me and state candidly
your opinion Of the plan:
Let the representative people Of Ore
gon through their business men. bank
ers and statesmen organize. what We
shall call the Oregon Oriental Bus
ness League" a better name may b.
suggested) The object Of which league
10 be the advancement Of OregOn's in
terest in a commercial way in the Orient
and the Philippines Let a fund. say
Of ten or fifteen thousand dollars be
first raised and permanent offices estab-
lished at Astoria or Portland. Then lei
say, two shrewd, experienced. deter
mined citizens be selected to visit China
the east coast OF Russian Siberia. pass
ing through the Chinese empire and es-
pecially the Yang tse Kiang. visit the
Philippine islands, returning by way OF
the Hawaiian islands.
The mission Of these men would be Of
LII 81