The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-17

Mir. Bankhead is not here to respond to your words of welcome. but we do not feel that we could fill his place we thank your very kindly for your wofas of welcome"
 Mir. Bishop. of Michigan, who iost an arm during the war of 6l-65. while serving as an officer in the Union army. then spoke eloauently of this happy reunited country, and of the total dis appearance of sectional feelings. He paid tribute to the energy and heroism of the Southern people and or their devotion to tseir convictions in peace or war.
 Mr. Bishop further. said that soon af- ter he became member or the hivs1 and Harhor Committee, he ana MT Bankhead became fast friends.
 T have learned to love and admire him above all men from the Southland, said Mir. Bishop. T admire him Tor his courage; for his splendid ability;a for his understanding. For ten years MT. Bankhead, on the part ol Alabama, and myself, on the part of Michigan. have been dividing the appropriations for the Rivers and Harbors. The little iett lover goes to Colonel Alexander for New York, and little to Massachusetts. and a few other places in the country. but the larger part of 1t, seven million to this State and six and half million to Michigan was the amount of one appro- priation.
 Appropriations for Alabama.
 That Alabama secures consideration Is due more to Colonel Bankhead than to any other Representative in Con- gress from the Southern States. l say 1t, without fear of contr- diction; he has done more than any one else for your rivers and harbors of the South. He has taken them under his special care. He has been so long with the commit tee, he knows how to accomplish his purposes. and the great appropriations that they have been making for tho Mobile harbor. and the great appropria- tions they have made for the Warrior river, and various other places in this State. could not have been accomplish ed by any other man except MT. Bank head.
 'T really got jealous once or twice. I thought that Michigan was entitled to as much. with her great coast-way. and great number of harbors, that she was entitled to more than Alabama, but he persuaded me that I might be mis- taken, and I say to you.. that in the future, you will point to the canali- zation of the Little Warrior as mon ument to the ability. to the push and to the perseverance of Mir. Bankhead. 1t is the greatest work of the kind that has been attempted within the borders of the United States, an im- provement of the smallest river at the largest expense of any place in the United States. really hope, that is 1t is my desire; it would not be right for me to say, <but I simply want to pay tribute to MT. Bankhead.
 Keep Bankhead in Congress.
 Tt seems to me that cannot help but say 1t. that the people of this State should see to it that Mir. Bankhead is kept in Congress, where his splendid ability. where his long experience has made him so useful. as long as he con- sents to stay. either in the Lower House, or the Upper House of Con gross. Few people realize the serious ness of setting aside upon the shelf a man of MT. Bankheads ability. No new member can come from the ranks of the people and assume the place that he occupies without many years of experience, and when a man has been tried and mot found wanting. 1t seems to me tho people of the State, the people of the district must lose their senses when they put aside such a useful member to take up one that must learn to climb before he can climb. and must have years of experi- ence before he can assume the place 
 cupies.
 Again. Mir. Chairman, I want to say that I am glad to be in Alabama, and I hope to have the pleasure of serving many years with Colonel Bankhead in the appropriations of the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the United States"
 MR. VandiveF SpealSs.
 MT Vandiver then said:
 T would feel that I were untrue to the people of Montgomery and the peo- pie of this great State, if we did not have something to say in connection with the beautiful sentiments ex- pressed by our distinguished friend from Michigan.
 T did not expect to talk the sec ond time, but want to say this, we endorse every word he has just said, and long ago made up our minds that we could never secure a man to take the place of Colonel Bankhead. He was one of those who helped to make the history of our country from 1861 to 1865, he Is now serving our com mon country, all semblance of division has been removed, and the white winged angel of peace is lowering over us all.
 we recognize the ability of our fell low statesman, Colonel Bankhead, and we appreciate the fact that our in- terests are always In his mind, and that he is at all times doing his best, and Iaboring to his utmost for his peo- pie and his country"
 The party was taken in automo- piles up Commerc street to Court Square and up Court street to South street. The congressman and their party were then driven down Berry street to Dexter avenue and up the avenue to the historic Capitol.
 Visitors at the Capitol.
 At the Capitol, the visitors were cor dially greeted by Governor Jelks and pr. Thomas M. Owen. Director or the Department of Archives and History, who gave an interesting explanation of all the historic points of the build ing. The visitors were intensely in- terested and 1t was with regrets that they left the building. The handsome monument to the Confederate dead, the Jefferson Davis star, and the mast of the Infanta Maria Theresa were all subjects of inquiry and explanation.
 The party was driven down Balm bridge street to Madison avenue and down this beautiful street to Bibb street, where the party saw the old Jefferson Davis home.
 The depot was reached at 9.15 o'clock and the train was at once boarded. The party left for Atlanta and went direct to Washington.
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