The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-20
THE TRANS MISSISSIPPI CON-
GRESS.

vi OH the puDllC-SplTII0O dIlu OISlH-
terested organizations of citizens en-
gagged in the promotion of laudable
public ends. there is none to-
which the American people owe
more than the Trans Mississippi
congress. Since it's organization 1t
has been devoted to the advance
ment of undertakings for the accom-
plishment of which the country has
been obliged to depend wholly in the
past on purely political agencies. Until
its work had succeeded in attracting
national attention there existed few, if
any, means, Independent of party po-
litical influences or those OF private in
terest, through which to concentrate
the force of enlightened public senti-
ment in a given direction. Its latest
great achievement, of directing and en-
forcing official action on the irrigation
of the arid lands of the West, secured
for it a paramount influence. It's de-
liberations in this city will be followed
with the deepest interest in every sec
ton of the country, and, if guided by
the same measure of good sense and
conservatism which distinguished it's
former conventions, will be productive
of inestimable service to the country.
The business interests of the United
States have learned in recent years to
depend on enlightened cooperative &C
ton for their own protection. The
press alone has been the agency
through which the needs and demands
of business progress have found ex-
preston. Party political sentiment is at
best but a hazardous instrumentality
through which to seek the promotion
of great public undertakings involving
the productive forces of the country.
Needed legislative action has been de-
ferred, often during the lifetime of a
generation, owing to party contentious
This has been especially true with ref
erence to the creation of new states
Indeed it has been in measure true of
every great public enterprise, the full
f1llment of which has depended on the
action of the national authorities.
1t has been well observed that the
statute books of the nation can be
searched in vain for measures which
have been operated to extend the trade
of the country or to promote it's pro-
ductive capacity. This fact is due in
no small degree to the absence from
the public life of the country of Just
such influences as that which in re-
cent years has been welded by the
Trans Mississippi congress and kim
bred bodies.
The scope Of usefulness Of such bod
les has no recognized limits today.
Even the most superficial considera-
ton of the many directions in which
they can serve the people must arouse
surprise that the vast business in
terests of the country have for so long
omitted to secure some such source
through which to convey to the law
making powers their needs and de-
mands. Business men avoid political
nate, no matter from what point it may
be regarded; but conditions in pubic
life have rendered it inevitable. It
would not be easy to compute the
number or to estimate the Importance
of the many public undertakings i'm
medfately affecting the productive
welfare of this people which have gone
neglected in congress from lack of such
aid as is'forthcoming through the ac-
ton of bodies such as that which ia
now in session IN this city.
The Gle e does not seek or wish to
anticipate the work of the commercial
congress. Influenced by the knowledge
which prevails of the worth of that
body's former achievements, it is con-
tent to rely on the wisdom and patriot
ism Of the gentlemen who are in at
tendance as delegates.