The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-02-01
NOV BEFORE CONGRESS.
Work Accommodating and Both Sen.
~ = y - - =.
ate and House Are Kept y
Very Busy.
IMPORTANT MEASURES UNDER WAY.
Southern Interests Receiving Con.
siderable Attention--Unanim OF
Opinion Regarding an Isthmian
Canal-Feeling ON Subsidy to Conc
Jmerce.
Especial Correspondence
vyyz-l.l ~ ~ r

Especial Correspondence
Washington, D. c., Jan. 30!
Appropriation bills are accommodating in
the senate and are rapidly being disposed
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
which. oil the machinery,of government and
keep it from stopping. The house shows no
disposition to lag in it's work, however dila-
tory the senate may be in emulating the
houses example. It cannot be doubted,
however, that with the increased response
bilities of our government, with its Is, OOO,-
600 Americans, to say nothing of its l0,O00,-
600 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 flibusters in the senate are buster
ing as hard as before regarding their DISPOSE
ton to "hold up important administration
measures, in order to 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 it's defeat. The people, on the
other hand, while industrious 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
ters which are denied the proper time re-
'Quired for their consideration in the regular
sessions will always meet with the peoples
approval whenever the president finds him.
self-for any reasons Of congressional neg
lect or studied dilatoriness- forced to safe
guard the nations interests in that manner.
There is growing feeling among many of
our more thoughtful statesmen that the
southern problem will be solved by those in
the south who are responsible for the dis
reimbursement 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
nation, Immediately there will 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, it is beginning to be
seen by the wiser of those Of that section,
has been held in check by the oligarchy exer-
cised by white voters throughout that entire
section, an oligarchy that has been a con-
stant menace to representative government
and consequently deterrent to extensive
investment.
j The possibilities beyond the construction
of gan 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
.rieh and all but exhaustless resources of
!, their own section. This is finding express
sion in various forms, but nowhere more
pointedly than in the FESTIVE feeling shown
by, advanced thinkers and real statesmen
among the congressional delegations repre-
tsehting southern constituencies. Whenever
business men get together in the south to
discuss matters of public interest relating to
their section OIL. the country, they.fnd them
selves handicapped and restrained from
joining iq unity for the legislation which
they deem essential to 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 unan:n1ity with which
southern industrial and commercial organi-
cations unite in pettioning congress to en-.
act legislation that shall build up the coun-
try's mercantile marine. Freed from the
shackles of racial controversies there would
be no difficulty in the real wishes of south
ern business men finding clear and cogent
expressions so frequently and so generally
as to force upon their representatives in
congress either a change of policies, or else
:achange of representatives. The direct SUBJ
sidy to commerce involved in the construc-
ton of an isthmian canal cannot be gain
said, and the south to-day is almost unit
in its behalf, for the very fortunate reason
that, although it is not a new question, it has
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 Of rivers and harbors, apply
without deviation to the problem of restor-
ing our ships to the seas. The latter can
only be solved through a government SUBJ
sidy, just as the constrr.. On of an isthmian
canal has on all SIDES J n conceded to be
a mere matte ~'~f c~,. lment "undertak-
ing"-the latte: ":9.i taking the place Of
the tabooed VIC: ':1,bsidy.1 There can be
no doubt that il he word Subsidy" were
applied to an list: .,,:.1 canal construction,
and to river and harbor improvements, as it
has been to mercantile marine construction
and improvement, the prejudices against the
word would have long ago disappeared, so
determined are our people to construct a
canal and improve our rivers and harbors,
and none the. less determined are they to
build up merchant marine of our own
Clearly it 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 develop
ment of the whole nation. Equally obvious
is it to those mingling with those people in
official life here at the capital still influenced
more by prejudice than, by reason, that
nothing will so utterly dissipate the absurd
and groundless objection to the suggestion
of Subsidy as to put the policy into opera
ton in an effective manner that shall result
in giving us powerful merchant marine in
which all sections can take pride and which
will 50 substan tally and enduringly strength.
en- the nations defenses and promote its in
dustries and its commerce.