The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-31
CANAL RIGHT OF WAY
Land For Nicaragua Route
Gobbled by Spectators.
NO ACTION LIKELY THIS SESSION,
Choice Of Routes VIII Postpone
Definite LegislasiOa - Irrigation's
Chances Look slim-Senat0r Ba-
cons Growing Power.

Definite Legislaaiou - lrrfgatfon's
Chances Look slim-SenatOr Ba-
cons Growing Power.
WASHINGTON, Jan 29.-tSpecial. i
At the present time II would be rather
"A bold man who would predict that
there will be no canal legislation at
this congress, for after all the dis
cussion that will be going on from now
until the close of the session there is
quite a possibility of some compromise
measure being agreed to which will di-
rect the president to negotiate for con
troll of canal territory and to secure
right of way where 4 canal Is to be
built Further, it is quite possible that
the president will be left free TO nego-
tate for both routes, SO as TO secure the
best possible terms. While there is
little doubt about securing the neces-
sary concessions from either Colombia
or Nicaragua, the right of way along
the latter route is matter of some
concern. 1t has been openly asserted
that spectators have bought every
acre of ground which will be needed
for the canal, and after the United
States gets its concessions from the
government it Will be necessary 10 eN-
pend large sums for right Of way.
Legislation such as / have Indicated
will be anything but satisfactory 10
the supporters OF the Nicaragua route
or TO those who are very anxious for n
canal 1t may be that the latter class,
in case the senate should adopt the
Panama route viii vote for the Pan
anna bill in order TO avoid any tedious
delays which are sure to come If there
are to be further negotiations, but al
the same time the outlook now is
against definite legislation at this ses-
sion.
An Array of Talent.
1t is an ambition and pleasure TO
Representative William Alden Smith
of Michigan TO get together number
Of able speakers and take them TO his
home in Grand Rapids and turn them
loose on his constituents He usually
selects Lincoln's birthday for these ora
torical displays and about once in three
or four years pulls Off, one of the
best talking matches of the season.
lie has already made arrangements for
this year. and his band OF speakers
could not be excelled. His list begins
with Mr.. WI Ting Fang, the Chinese
minister whose wit and wisdom are
uneXcelled and who has been talking
very generally of late. Then he has
Representative Robert G.. Cousins Of
Iowa. whose oratory too infrequently
charms the house Then there is Rep
resentative Charles y. Lands of Indi-
ana. man who can tell funny story
well and can talk well on any subject.
Mr.. Smith is no mean talker himself.
and If the three guests do not give his
constituents all they can stand he will
be ready to supply the demand for
more. Grand Rapids Is sure Of plenty
OF ''het air. on Feb. -.
Asked Too Much.
There is fear among some OF the
ardent friends of irrigation that the
special Joint committee has put toe
much into the measure TO make il Il
success. IL is believed that II simple
and plain proposition for irrigation to
come out Of the proceeds of the sale of
lands in arid land states might have
had some show nj this session. but the
bin as agreed upon contains provisions
for eight hour laws and touch of
Chinese exclusion in providing that no
Asiatic labor shall he employed OIL the
irrigation works. In many of the arid
land states Chinese labor would be
most available for the work, and it is
also doubtful whether the hours of Ia
Dor should be peremptorily fixed, as ii
might be necessary TO rush such work
on some parts of the various projects.
Too much legislation in any single
proposition often makes a bill heavy
and engenders too much opposition FOL
success.
Georgia to the Front.
A.few years ago men Of the old south
ern political school were giving place
in the senate to younger men. Every
body wondered whether the disappear
ance of Wade Hampton, Matt Butler
General Gordon, General Colquitt j. u
George, General Walthall, Zeb Vance
MATT udDSOln anu OInerS WOulQ IeaNt
the states they had represented so ably
behind in the race. For that reason
the careers of Bacon, Clay, Tillman
the McLaurins, Money and others who
succeeded the men who came to the
senate during or soon after the recon
struction period had been watched with
more than ordinary interest. Some OF
these men have been Endorsed by sec
ond election in their states, and / men
ton particularly Senator Bacon OF
Georgia, who has advanced in a short
time to be one of the foremost men OF
his party I'm the senate. Although but
entering upon his second term, he is q
member of the two important commit
tees of foreign relations and judiciary
besides being a member of the com.
mittee on rules, which, on account OF
its control and management of per-
sonal affairs of the senate, is sought
after by senators. But committee work
is not Senator Bacon's strongest forte
His place is in the arena, in give
and take debate, upon any of the great
questions Of the day, where he displays
n skill that hia onnonents apprecia 70