Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-02-01
Work Accommodating and Both Sen.
ate and House Are Kept
Very Busy.
IMPORTANT MEASURES UNDER WAY.
Southern Interests Receiving Con-
adorable Attention-Unanim OF
Opinion Regarding an Isthmian
Canal-FeeIing on su bsidy to Com
merce.
Especial Correspondence
Washington, ID. c., Jan.

OF in the house, and the chances for an ex
ira session are beginning TO hinge entirely
upon the willingness to be shown by the
senate in considering and disposing of in a
business.ike manner the great measures
which oil the machinery Of government and
keep it from stopping. The house shows no
disposition TO lag in its work, however dila.
tory the senate may be in emuating the
houses example. 1t cannot be doubted,
however, that with the increased response
bilities Of our government with its 1900
600 Americans, TO say nothing of its 0,000,-
900 or 100000 other dependents in dis
tant parts Of the world, the short sessions
are proving quite inadequate for the proper
transaction of the public business that
crowds upon congress
The fibusters in the senate are buster
ing as hard as before regarding their DISPOSE
tion to hold up" important administration
measures, in order 10 force the president to
call an extra session, the manifest purpose
Of which is to endeavor to discredit the adj
ministration before the country, and per-
haps lead to its defeat The people, on the
other hand, while undesirous Of wasting the
public funds, are equally DESTROYS Of secur
ing the benefits that flow from beneficial
legislation. To convene congress in extra
session in order to supply sufficient time for
the disposal Of pressing and important mat
tiers which are denied the proper time re-
CURED for their consideration in the regular
sessions viii always meet with the peoples
approval whenever the president finds him
se.f-tor any reasons Of congressional neg
lect or studied di,atornoss-f forced TO safe
guard the nations interests in that manner
There is growing feeling among many of
our nore thoughtful statesmen that the
southern problem viii be solved by those in
the south who are responsible for the dis
franchisement Of colored voters. AS soon
as the necessity for unity of political action
among the white voters Is removed by the
elimination Of the possibility Of negro dom
lnatIop, Immediately there VIII be a d.
vision among the white voters upon great
national problems that are not influenced
by race questions. The development of the
resources of the south. II IS beginning to be
seen by the wiser Of those OF that section,
has been held in check by the o,igarchy exer-
cised by white voters throughout that entire
section, an o.igarchy that has been con-
slant menace 10 rcprese ntative government
and consequently 4 deterrent 10 extensive
investment
The possibilities beyond the construction
Of an isthmian canal have opened the eyes
Of many Of the more progressive people of
the south, quickened as they have been by
their realization OF the almost untouched
rich and a.. but eXhaustiess resources Of
their own section This IS finding express
sion in various forms but nowhere more
a 4.
by advanced thinkers and real statesmen
among the congressional delegations repre-
sentng southern constituencies. Whenever
business men get together in the south TO
discuss matters Of pubic interest relating to
their section of the country, they find them
selves handicapped and restrained from
joining in unity for the legislation which
they deem essential 10 their rapid and per
manent development by finding that the
only methods at their command clash with
the economic predictions of those who
manage their politica. affairs.
One of the most significant illustrations
Of this is found in the unanimity with which
southern industrial and commercial organi-
cations unite in pettionirg congress to en-
act legislation that shall build up the coun-
try's mercantile marine. Freed from the
shackles Of racial controversies there would
he no difficulty in the real wishes Of south
ern business men finding Gear and cogent
expressions so frequently and so generally
as 20 force upon their representatives IN
congress either a change Of policies. or else
a change Of representative. The direct sub
sidy 20 commerce involved in the construc-
tion Of an isthmian canal cannot be gain
said, and the south today Is almost unit
in its behalf, for the very fortunate reason
ha4 - tr,, - hos
never become partisan one
But the very course OF reasoning that sup
ports the demand for the construction Of an
isthmian canal. precisely the same basic
principles being involved as there are in the
improvement % rivers and harbors. apply
without deviation 10 the problem Of restor-
ing our ships TO the seas. The after can
only be solved through a government sub
sidy, just as the construction Of an isthmian
cana has on al sides been conceded % be
a mere matter OF government undertake
ing'-the latter word taking the place Of
the tabooed word subsidy" There can be
no doubt that if the word subsidy" were
applied TO an isthmian canal construction.
and TO river and hafbor improvements, as il
has been TO a mercantile marine construction
and Improvement, the preiudces against the
word would have long ago disappeared. so
determined are our people TO construct
canal and improve our rivers and harbors,
and none the less determined are they TO
build up merchant marine OF our own
Clearly il is seen in official circles here
especially among the more progressive and
representative men Of the south that the
sunlight of reason is beginning to pierce the
gloom Of prejudice upon economic matters
that has been the greatest drawback to the
south's development, and, as consequence,
TO the symmetrical progress and deve OPP
ment OF the whole nation. Equally obvious
is il 10 those ming.in with those people in
official life here at the capital still influenced
more by prejudice than by reason. that
nothing will so utterly disspate the absurd
and groundiess objection to the suggestion
OF subsidy as TO put the policy into opera.
ton in an effective manner that shall result
in giving us a powerful merchant marine in
which all sections can take pride and which |
will so substantially and enduringy strength /
en- the nations defenses and promote It's In.
dustTies and 10 commerce.