The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-13
SPEAKS FOR NICARAGUA.
Senator Mitchell Calls the Pan.
anna Project "a StuPen-
dOus Gold Brick"

Washington, June AFTER trans q
acting some routine business and dis L
cussing for q time the bill TO relieve
shippers from the London dock charges '
the Senate to day resumed considera-
tiOn OF the isthmian canal project. Mr.. l.
Mitchell, of Oregon, continued his =
speech, bugun on Thursday, in opposi-
tion to the Panama route. After con-
| sidering the engineering difficulties OF
the route, which he regarded as ex-
tremely serious, he denounced the
methods of the Panama Canal Com
pany, which he declared were the most
corrupt In the history Of the world. He
asserted that no better way could be
found to defeat the construction OF any
canal than TO adopt the SDooner amend |
ment. |
| Mr.. Mitchell said he had referred in |
sdvertently to the Isthmisn Commission
as Hanna Commission" and had not
intended to reflect on Mr.. Hanna or the
commission. Discussing at length the
reports OF the Canal Commission, he
said that IL had reported In favor of the
Nicaragua route, after examining all
3 routes, rs the most feasible and practi-
cable, and that report WAS definite and
, conclusive, backed by facts and figures.
y The commission, he added, had changed
, its mind within u month, wholly on the
: ground Of cost. He insisted that II the
p facts presented by the commission were
: examined carefully, It would be the
r Judgment OF any Senator that the real
p choice of the commission. as to Q
route, was that through Nicaragua.
Mr.. Mitchell criticised the project
II for constructing the Bihio dam on the
4 Panama route, quoting eminent engi-
!. neers as saying 1t involved enormous
!, difficulties snd many novel and untried
features.
ia He handled the proposition to build
10 the canal by the Panama route, and in
IL without gloves. BY the adoption OF
T, this proposition, he said, ''the United
"a States would be tacking on to one OF the
greatest frauds and pieces of corrup.
tion known since the world began" He
could not believe that the Senate In
tended ito consider seriously propo
I'd sition which will involve the United
a. States In legal controversy for hun
to dred years. want the Senate TO know
he the facts and TO determine whether W,
BY really shall take up this rotten concerI
across the sea-" Mr.. Mitchell ex
In pressed the opinion that the enactmen
"a of the SpoOner amendment would resul
"a in postponing the beginning OF tn,
se canal project, as the President probs
Id bly, would have to make an independen
Investigation before he reached de
he cision. He urged that Congress ough
o to accept the responsibility of selectin
the route, and not turn that resp0ns
to bility over TO the President. He ad
he mitted that legally the transfer Of sue
responsibility could be made, but en-
phstically denied that it WAS eithe
wise or proper, and intimated ths
such action would be cowardly. b
suggested the possibility that IL tn
OF United States should adopt the Pansul
me route, some other nation would col
rs, struct a canal by the Nicaragua rout
'no thus creating competition that would
nt' disastrous to the United States.
er' Mr.. Mitchell denounced the idea thi
'ed the United States should lend its nan
om to the Panama canal enterprise, "who'
history in the last ten years had shocks
ma the sensibilities of mankind" He d
ary clared that it was the "most rapsciol
the scheme of legislatives corruption, iou
eit- nslistic venslity and social and polite
10 exposure ever uncovered In any age
In country" He asserted that the launc
ne ing of the Panama canal enterprise W
ore lone of the greatest farces ever VI
ons messed on earth. either in ancient
ing modern times" and that the who
Wiz project was lone of the most stupen
COZ GUS gold brick games ever imposed up
q people,"
'ne Mr.. Mitchell declared that by Il
SpOoner amendment and the views
ei~ the minority of the Canal committ
the United States not only was invit
!, to take part in q gigantic lotte
y scheme, but also would he compell
by by French law controlling canal CO
ich struction TO purchase in France all ri
md materials entering into the canal.
esi- pointed out that the new Panama Car
eel Company had entered into ObligatiO
'sed to construct the canal, and insisted th
'de- the United States, II it purchased th
by company's rights and property, wOu
Der. be the legstee of all obligations of Z
put French company, including those to q
de- stock holders of the old Panama Car
to Company. In view of all the conditiO
lg q he did not think wise man would
'ors vest $40, 900, 600 In a proposition of th
'ble kind.
is In closing, Mr.. Mitchell declared th
tive If he were looking for way to defe
be the construction of an isthmian can,
so he could find no better one than 4
de- adoption of the SpOOner amendmeI
the He was satisfied that the PsnaI
'nai Canal proposition could not be touch
he without deflement or even looked
cas- without lOathing. 1t was, he said,
ciai sink of iniquity which the Unit
'ht- States ought not to approach.
ork After q brief executive session, t
Senate adjourned.