The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-05-04
PRESIDENT AND
OLYMPIC GAMES
Congress May Appropriate $780,.
OO0.- Though May Not
This Session.
A GREAT NOVEL DISPLAY
Troops From Foreign Nations
May Compete With Our
Military Drills and
Athletics.

CHICAGO. May s.--Messrs Henry J.
Fuber and Benjamin = Rosenthal, Of
The olymplan Games Commission. have
returned 10 Chicago after visit to
Washington, made for the purpose Of
discussing the games with President
Roosevelt and other prominent gov
ernment officials. Both are deeply
pleased with the cordial Interest with
which the president listened for near
ly an hour to their presentation OF the
plans for the contest. In regard to
an appropriation Of $4,000 from con-
gress. Mr.. F'urber last night said:
we are advised by certain members
that the olympian games may read
ily be rendered SO important as to
make II incumbent upon congress to
make a liberal appropriation. II Is,
however, their opinion that II is too
late to accomplish anything this sea-
son. but that II the merits OF the gen
erai enterprise are properly brought to
the attention OF the public within the
next few months. congress, supported
BY the popular interest which the
games should arouse. may at its next
meeting be readily induced to make
the necessary appropriation"
Continuing, Mr.. Furber said:
we return with the feeling that
the military and naval features Of our
program may be rendered most inn
portant 1t is hoped that we may Sc
cure the attendance Of conungents Of
the national guard from different
states and also from the regular army.
| 1t is not improbable that an effort
may be made TO secure the presence
OF troops from foreign nations to com
pete with ours in military drills and
athletics. To Congressman Foss. chair
man Of the house 'com1littee on naval
affairs, we are indebted for q valuable
suggestion. He informs US that there
are many vessels belonging TO our
navy which could be brought into the
great lakes without difficulty. Among
these may be mentioned the Hartford
Admiral Farragut's old flagship the
Gloucester, which engaged the Span
ish torpedo flotilla off Santiago, and
enough sailors TO make an impressive
naval pageant The presence of war
ships on the lakes is Of course gov
erned by treaties with Great Britain
and Canada, but for an amicable pur-
pose such as this. especially as 1t may
not be impossible to secure the pres
ence also of ships from foreign navies.
II is thought that England and Can
ada would be glad to lend their ap-
proval to the plan. The Importance of
Congressman Foss' action extends be-
yond the games of 1904. There Is no
city in the lake region which has not
a profound interest in developing COM
merce by the way OF the great lakes.
Anything that facilitates the accessl-
bility Of our lake ports from the ocean
or accentuates the existence of facili-
ties we already possess will bring our
lake ports to the attention of foreign
nations as available points of entry.
The fact that naval feet, especial
ly IL composed in part Of ships from
foreign countries, can reach ChlcaSo
by traversing our lakes. would, it Is
believed, be an effective means of in
fluencing foreign nations that, for pur-
poses of commerce, our lake cities are
practically open ports II this plan
shall be developed as is expected it is
proposed that the fleet shall congre-
gate at some Canadian port in Lake
Huron and visit the principal ports
Of Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan
on the way to Chicago"
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY.
NEW YORK May S.-The California