Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-20


II OF which be succeeded and In
some Of which he failed. Just
now he is attempting the impossible,
seeking the unattainable, in trying to
make people believe that he and SEN
ator Beveridge and Mr.. Speaker Can
non and the whole Republican ma
chine were not whipped clear out of
their boots by the Democrats and In
surgent Republicans In the statehood
dght. The president gave the pen with
which be signed the Oklahoma state
hood bill to Beverage. What the Hoo
,sier senator wants with 1t is a mys-
terry. It seems to me that 80 often as
hs looks upon 1t he will recall his
great defeat. II it had not been for
the solid Democratic vote, aided by the
insurgents, bill would have been ram
med through congress making one state
out Of Oklahoma and the Indian Ter
ritory and another state out OF New
Mexico and Arizona. That was the
administration measure, fathered by
Bever1dge and pressed with might and
main both from the White House and
from the speakers chair. But the
Democrats and Republican insurgents
stood Arm and made the good fight.
tr1umphing In the end over the presi-
dent, the speaker and other coadtutors.
It was bitter fight, bitter as gall
the most bitter Of the session-and left
scars which will not heal In long
time II ever. Words said aud things
done In that contest will rankle when
many Of the participants are in their
graves. President Roosevelt might
present Senator Beverage with all the
pens In America and then not convince
the observant that those twain achlev-
"a a victory In the statehood matter.
That portion Of the new state of
Oklahoma now contributing the Indian
Territory now comes in with a prohi-
bition condition. It may be interesting
to know that at least three other states
were admitted on conditions-Missouri
that she would never enforce the con-
| stttutonai provision against the set
t1ement Of free negroes or mulattoes in
the state: Michigan on condition that
/
certain disputed strip Of territory: Utah
on condition that she prohibit polyga-
my within her borders. Twas came in
with two privileges that no other state
enjoyed arst, OF retaining all her
public land and, second, OF dividing
herself into Eve states whenever she
oets ready, which abe viii never do.
State pride 10 too strong. The Texan
who would advocate such a proposition
would run the riak Of bstng mobbed.
A. q result Of retaining her public
lands Texas viii some day have a pub
lie school fund equal to he combined
school fund Of all the rest Of the states.
9he has pursued the wise policy Of
leasing them instead Of selling them.
LaIss Erie and Ohio River chip osnaI.
The prospects Of Pittsburg, always
bright, were greatly improved at the
recent session Of congress. One of the
most important actions Of that body at
that session-perhaps the historians of
the future will rank It as the most Inn
portant-was the granting Of charter
toc ship canal from Lake Erie to
pittsburs. That 1t will when built
make great changes, especially in the
growth Of Pittsburg, must be clear to
the dullest intellect. It will also settle
for Ill time to come the question Of
deep water in the Ohio from Pittsburg
to Cairo. Most assuredly P!ttsburg is
70 be most heartily congratulated upon
her good luck. The canal is to be 103
miles long and La estimated to cost
eleO0o,0oo. The chances are that 1t
VIII cost more. It Is to be built by
private capital-not dollar to come
out Of the national treasury. There
was strenuous objection to 1t on the
ground that 1t might ruin the water
supply of several small cities and
towns and Of numerous manufacturing
plants, and there is much reason In the
contention. There was also strenuous
objection to granting q private corpora
ton ownership Of Q ship canal, and
there was much reason in that objec-
Ton. But the desire to sec such an
important waterway established over
came, after thirteen years of struggle,
the obvious objections and the great
scheme IL launched. It is said that It
% already fully financed and that the
antual digging will begin next April.
OF course certain railroads also OBJ
1sctsd because they think 1t will In
lure their business. But the chances
are that the commerce Of Pittsburg
will be 80 increased that the railroads
will have more business than before.
The truth is that the American peo-
pie are just beginning to wake up to
the possibilities of increasing our
wealth and commerce by building ca.
pals and improving our rivers. The
Chicago drainage canal to the Missis-
sippi is almost certain to develop into
ship canal from Chicago to the gulf
4 canal across Florida from the gull
10 the Atlantic will surely be built, also
enc across Maryland. These canals
will bring vast changes with them in
the shipping and manufacturing bust.
ness. Ship canals are time savers In
IN eminent degree. No other species Of
transportation compares In cheapnesa
With water transportation, and the
dme Will come when there will be g
ship canal built wherever sensible ms1
bsllsvs II viii pay.
Our Merchant Marine.
When Napoleon had signed the It'll,
deeds to the Louisiana territory b,
turned Do Monroe and Livingston, say
: ing, II have given England q maritim
xavnl.n That was tho chief pleasur