The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-21
BOWIE IS PLEASED
 WITH THE RESULT Congressman of Fourth Says
 Morgan is Vindicated COUNTRY SHOULD REJOICE Says He Believes Favorable Action By Canal Treaty Would Have Been a
 National Mlsfortune-Nlca-
 raeua the Solution.
COUNTRY SHOULD REJOICE

Anniston, August 20.-(Special)-Hon Sydney J. Bowie, congressman of the Fourth congressional district of Alabama, is of the opinion that the Nicaragua canal will now be built, since the Colombian senate has turned down the Panama ca nal treaty. In an interview he said;
 T think the country has every reason to rejoice that the Colombian senate has refused to ratify the Panama canal treaty. A favorable action of the Co., lombian congress upon that treaty would have been almost national misfortune
 "Under the express provision of the act of congress, it is now the duty of the President to make arrangements with Nicaragua and Costo Rica, and proceed with the building of the Nicaragua route. But for this latter provision in the bill, as it came from the senate. it would have never been accepted by the house. large majority of the house, including Colonel Hepburn, chairman of the house committee, and they would have rejected the senate amendment, giving preference to the Panama route, but for the provi- sion making it mandatory upon the Pres ident to build the canal upon the Nicara- qua route in the event a satisfactory title could not be obtained in a reasonable time to the Panama route. A reasonable time has already elapsed and treaty giv- ing us a satisfactory title has been reject ed. There is nothing, therefore, in the way of an immediate construction of the Nicara qua canal--nor Is any additional legislation required. except probably a W wi fca Qr which they stand ready and anxious to l make.
 Morgan Vindcated.
 "The event has fully vindicated Senator Morgan's position on thls question. He has all along maintained the proposi- ton that a satisfactory title could not be obtained from Colombia, and that therefore. the French Panama company had nothing which it could sell. But for his pronounced belief upon this question, and his earnest insistence. it Is very doubtful whether the canal bill as amend ed by the senate would have passed the house at all at the last session. The sen ator, however, was so deeply impressed with the improbabiity of obtaining clear title through the isthmus of Pan anna. and was so anxious to have final legislation that he urged upon the mem bers of the house. both democrats and republicans, that the senate amendments ] be accepted.
 "It has been suggested that the Presi- dent will find some means of evading the express mandate of the statute requiring him to proceed with the building of the Nicaragua canal. It is difficult to conceive how such result could be accomplished. To do so would be both a breach of law and of faith. I believe the overwhelming | ca ont iu1an in ic in of the canal. and that much the largest half of 1t prefers the Nicaragua route, and if there should be further trouble on this question the republican party, which is responsible for the matter, would hear from it to their serious detriment in the next election. For this reason have faith in the idea that they will be wise enough to carry out the law as it now stands. If they do not, it is likely to assume a national issue. in which the position of the republican party will be indefensible.
 Prefers Nicaragua.
 "For my own part, l have always pre- ferred the Nicaragua route It will be of untold advantage to the people. and the commerce of the south. And it Is time we were receiving at least some recogni- ton at the hands of the general govern ment. Moreover, I think 1t would be better for the people of every section of the country.
 MT. Williams of Mississippi fully ex- pressed my convictions on the subject when he said he would rather pay five hundred million dollars for a canal through Nicaragua than to get one through Panama for nothing. It will not be necessary, however, to pay five hun dred millions for the Nicaragua route, nor could Panama route be obtained for nothing From every standpoint it seems to me the former route is preferable, and its building means much to the people of the south as well as to the country at large'