The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-22
CREAM of the SPECIALS
DRAMATIC FEATURES
In the Final Vote on the Isthmian Canal Bill.
Walter Williams in Chicago Record-Her-

III 1H1CdSU IAtCOIu-IltE~ E There were no sensational scenes dur lng the passage of this great piece of con structive legislation. There were no sur prises in the voting. There were no ex- traordinary incidents But underneath me superficial calmness there was in- tense interest. A large audience had gathered in the galleries. The floor was hiled Many members of the House were present. At last there seemed to be a event. Indifference disappeared. In it's place stood appreciation of the fact that the United States was about to enter upon the greatest engineering enterprise in the history of the world. Not only the greatest engineering enterprise, but that interference by man with the sur face of the earth which is to have the most momentous consequence upon com merce the relations of nations, the ex- change of commodities, the development of civilization.
 Men who had looked upon this vast project with indifference were at last reused to keen understanding of the sig nifiance of the moment After half cen- tury of agitation there was to be a canal at last.
 Nor was the dramatic element. absent in the eyes of those who could see be- yond the little panorama spread out in this beautiful Senate chamber Hun dreds of thousands of peasants of France had poured their savings into an at tempted piercing of the American isth- mus along the line which nature had ere ated. The French had failed. Now America. which knows no failure. to which all things are possible. was stepJ ping in to complete the great work. The star of empire whose course is west ward, ever westward stood in the zenith over the United States capitol today.
 A dramatic element was obvious enough A white-haired. wrinkls-b -browed old man sat in a front seat He was bowed and broken in defeat. but brave to the last. Half his life had been spent in labor for the Nicaragua Canal. For years he had been the leader whom men of both parties, of both houses, were glad to follow. A veritable giant he had en and shriveled. The scepter had passed from his hands. Across the aisle, smil- ing, radiant surrounded by his brisk lieutenants. giving his orders and know ing that they would be obeyed. sat the new leader, with his eight majority be- hind him.
 The poor old Morgan. the victorious Hanna. were incarnations of the differ ence between the old South and the North. Morgan. studious, dreamy. wordy. unadaptable, courageous. but unbusiness like, welded to an old idol Hanna. alert. practical masterfu. man of business. seeking only the best. conscious that in every great competition superiority must
 
 the old South Hanna's idea was essen tially that of the shrewd, pushing North The men of the new South stood Loyalty by Morgan. many of them against their judgment. But the North prevailed.
 There is little doubt that the House will accept the Senate bill. Senator Morgan said tonight he was weary of the fight and would make no effort to induce the House to stand out against the Senate. He is chairman of the conference com mittee of the present Senate, the other two members being Senators Hanna and Kittredge, the Panama leaders. Repre- sentative Hepburn. whose name the de- feated Nicaragua bill bears, VOWS he will fight to the bitter end. But conservative men express the opinion that the House will yield. To agree to the Senate bill Is the way to get a canal. Up to this time the Nicaragua zealots have accused the Panama advocates of seeking delay and to prevent the authorization of canal.