Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-21
Important tSpeeches Made
Before Trans-Missis-
sippi Congress.
ROOT ON THE SOUTH
Declares Monroe Doctrine Is
Not Dead---Harriman
Disputed.

Kansas City, Nov. 21.-Today's ses-
sion of the Mississippi CONNER
cial congress convention was devoted
entirely to speeches. Many additional
delegates, delayed in reaching the city
by storms, arrived during the night
and today.
Important Topics Up.
The topics for consideration today
included improvement of waterways
and leyees. trade relations with South
American countries, reclamation of
submerged lands. public drainage, mat
ters of insurance control, and naval
construction in Alaska.
Give SOutherners a Chance.
1t was intended to give the Latin
American diplomats, who were crowded
out of last nights program. Il chance
TO speak and TO hear from Victor c.
Anderson. president of the Colorado
School of Mines, who failed to reach
Kansas City yesterday.
Other Prominent Speakers.
Among the other speakers were w. |
ID. Vandiver. superintendent of insur- |
ance of Missouri; J. E. Ransdel of
Lake Providence, La. president of the |
National River and HarbOr congress;
John Barrett American minister to Co
lombia; Congressman Morris Shep-
pard of TeXarkana, Texas; F. r. New
ell of Washington, ID. c., chief of the
division of geological survey. and w.
II. Heron of Washington, ID. c., topog-
rapher of the department of the in
terror.
RansdcII Heard First.
The first address was delivered by
Representative J. Z. Ransdell of Lake
Providence, La. on Improvement of
Navigable Waterways
Roots Speech Feature.
Kansas City, Nov. 21-The feature J
of the Trans Mississippi Commercial
congress last night was the speech of
Elihu Root. secretary of state. He
dweIt upon our relations with the South
American republics, telling of his re-
cent trip through these countries. He
said the time has come for expansion
of trade between the countries of the
north and the south that would result
in the peaceful prosperity of a mighty
commerce. He declared the means OF
communication between these countries
must be improved and increased, and
said d "woeful deficiency in the means
to carry on and enlarge our South
American trade is but part of the gen.
eral decline and feebleness of the
American merchant marine"
snys Doctrine is Alive.
Roots subject was Commercial I'm
-, = |
lies AS was expected he voiced an
effectual protest in the presence of the
South American representative against
the statements recently made by an
American college professor in Ger
many that the Monroe doctrine is a
dead letter. His remarks on the sub
ject hold out little encouragement tol !
European powers 10 meddle more free ,
" than heretofore in South AmeTicanl :
affairs
As al measure toward stimulating
trade between the United States and
South America, Root urged the adop-
tion of some measure by congress
which would strengthen the merchant {
marine of this country
Replied to Hartman.
|
noon session of the congress was the
demand of Colorado delegate that he
be allowed TO answer the speech of E.
II. Hartman. Hartman criticised the .
present laws regulating railroads, as
serting such power as is now given the d,
interstate commerce commission is dan
gerous, not only to the welfare of the
railroads themselves, but 10 the indus
trial interests of the country with which
the railroads have mutual interests.
At the conclusion of Harriman's
speech George j. KindeIl of Denver
asked permission to answer it, Chair
man Francis refused to give Kindell 7
the privilege of the floor on the ground
that proper Interpretation of the rules
of the congress and due regard to cour-
tesy did not allow delegate to answer |
the speech of an invited guest.
Not Direct Answer. 4
Hartman. however, insisted that Kin t
dell be allowed to speak. KindelPs
speech was not a direct answer to the r
of Hartman, but an ar t
raignment of the railroads for alleged O
unfair rate discrimination. Hartman.
who had intended to leave for Topeka: