The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-21
SEPARATE STATEHOOD.
Favored for the Territories by
TransmissiSsippi Congress.

Seattle. Wash, Aug. 21.-St Louis
Will be the next place Of meeting for
the Transmississippi congress II the ex-
ecutive committee can make proper ar
engagements for dates and entertain
ments- The delegates were unanimous
In their choice of St. Louis for the con-
vention city but the matter was left in
the hands of the executive committee
for settlement with the understanding
that st. Louis is to be given the prefer
ence.
The committee on resolutions will be
ready to report this afternoon. All the
fights of the congress have been in the
meetings Of this committee. The report
viii recommend a separate statehood
for Indian Territory and Oklahoma and
a fight will likely be made on the floor
OF the congress by the delegates of Ok
lahoma who want joint statehood.
The committee viii favor the estab-
hshment of a fish hatchery on the banks
of the Frazer river. This was asked for
by the Washington delegation. They
approve the resolution recommending
10 congress that the consular service be
placed under civil service. They also
approved the resolution from California
TO have geological surveys continued.
The resolution favoring a ship sub
sidy was just about 10 be strangled
when a compromise was affected by
delegates from Washington urging con-
gr2ss 10 enact laws that Will build an
American merchant marine
The substitute committee has report
ed in favor Of a territorial form of gov
eminent for Alaska, but the commit
tee on resolutions has not yet threshed
out that question. Governor Brady is
the only member Of the Alaskan dele
cation to oppose this. a chance was
given the Alaskan delegation to present
their views to the congress, but after
Governor Brady had told why he was
opposed to this form of government eX-
Governor SV-intrard declined 10 "a he
cause he could not have time enough.
The feature of the session was the
address of Walter Gresham. of CAL
weston, on The Necessity Of First
Class Harbors to the Commercial and
Industrial Development of Our Coun-
try" He said in part:
The American people, until within
the last few years have been too busy
extending railroads. building factories
and developing their country to pay
much attention to foreign commerce: :
but now we are operating three-hfths
of the railroad mileage on our globe. our
manufactured products are greater than
those Of England. France and Germany
combined, we are raising the largest
surplus of breadstuff. hog products and
cotton of any country in the world,
and these products are transported with
IN our borders at less average cost per
ton mile than those of any other coun-
try. These facts demonstrate conclus-
lively the necessity for the early i'm
provement Of our harbors upon plans
commensurate with the needs of the
modern instrumentaliues of commerce
20 that our surplus products may reach
the markets of the world with the least
delay and the smallest transportation
charges possible. We have entered the
contest for the commercial supremacy
Of the world and every facility that the
government can extend must and will
be provided by congress.
"One other thing is essential to insure
our complete and permanent success as
a great commercial nation. that is a
merchant marine. manned by American
seamen ard carrying the American flag.
Let congress provide for deep and COM
modious harbors and enact liberal ship
registry laws, and the genius of the
American merchant backed by Ameri-
can capital will soon supply the yes
sells"
An hour was devoted to the irrigation
question. a speech was made by Geo.
H Maxwell Of Chicago and a paper
was read by c. p. Boothe Of Los Angeles
an this subject. The delegates were ta-
ken to the Puget sound navy yard to
see the cruiser New York and view the
navy yard.