The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-09-26

I'm each Of the sixteen states and terri.
tories, mentioned I'm the law. is direct
~ affected By the national statute-the
outcome Of intelligent and persistent
efforts Of leading citizens. providing
for the reclamation Of the arid lands
for the benefit OF home seekers. Dur
ing the years Of the Development Of the
measure which finally received the vote
Of every member Of the upper house
OF congress II encountered opposition,
based TO a large extent upon the view
that the aim ~ its promoters was TO
secure the benefits of irrigation TO
private owners at government expense.
The aim OF the statute is however, TO
enable this vast territory TO reclaim
It's arid lands without calling upon the
taxpayers OF the country at large to
pay for It. Whether the purposes OF
the bill will be fully accomplished must
depend I'm large measure upon the abil-
ity, sohriety Of judgment. independ.
ence and honesty of the officers Of the
interior department having this great
work in charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
than $1,000 miles. and the work OF rec
lamation is but I'm its infancy. The to-
tai cost OF construction Of the neces-
sary head gates. dams, main canals,
bitches, reservoirs and pumping sta
tions was at that time a little over
S93,OOO,0OO which of itself suggests
the hundreds of millions that may
eventually be invested in the territory
covered by the statute. The magni.
tude of the conception and the enor-
nous expense its carrying out involves
make us realize the overwhelming i'm.
portance Of a broad, capable and honest
administration of the work authorized
by the statute If effect is to be given
to that part of the plan that relieves
the country at large from ultimate La.
bility
Panama Canal
An isthmian canal has long been the
hope of our statesmen and the avow.
ed aim OF the two great parties. as
their platforms in the past show. The
Panama route having been selected,
the building Of the canal should be
pressed to completion with all reason
able expedition.
The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source of regret TO many
To them the statement that thereby a
great public work was assured to the
profit of our people is not a sufficient
answer TO the charge of violation of
national good faith. They appreciate
that the principles and healthy convic-
tions which in their working out have
made US free and great stand firmly
against the argument or suggestion
that we shall be blind TO the nature
of the means employed to promote our
welfare. They hold that adherence to
principle, whether II works for our
good or Ill. will have n more benefi-
cent influence on our future destiny
than all our material upbuilding, and
that we should ever remember that
the idea of doing wrong TO n small
er, weaker nation that we, or even all
mankind, may have a resultant good
is repugant to the principles upon
which our government was founded.
Under the laws Of the United States
the duty is imposed on the executive
TO proceed with due diligence In the
work of constructing the canal. That
duty should be promptly performed.
American Shipping.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but per cent of our tota!
exports and imports. For seventy
years prior TO 1860, when the Repub-
lican party came into power, our mer-
chant marine carried an average of
10 per cent OF our foreign commerce
BY 1877 II had dwindled TO - per cent
Now we carry but contemptibly
small fraction Of our exports and i'm
ports.
American shipping in the foreign
trade was greater by over 100000 tons
in 1910, nearly 100 years ago, than II
was last year. In the face Of the con-
tlnuous decline in the record Of Amer
ican shipping during the last forty
three years the promise Of the Repub-
lican party to restore II Is without en-
couragement. The record of the Dem
ocratic party gives assurance that the
task can be more wisely intrusted TO
IT,
II Is an arduous task 10 undo the ef-
feet Of forty years of decadence and
requires the study and investigation
OF those best fitted by experience TO
find the remedy, which surely does not
lie in the granting OF subsidies wrung
from the pockets of all the taxpayers.
Investigation Of Government Depart.
ments.
Recent disclosures, coupled with the
rapid augmentation of government eX.
penditures, show a need of an investi-
cation Of every department of the gov
ernment The Democrats in congress
demanded il. The Republican majori-
ty refused the demand, The people
can determine by their vote in No
vember whether they wish an honest