The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-02
PLACEFOR PRESIDENT
Champ Clark Sees Great OPP
pOrtunities for Him.
CAPE MAY PLAN DENOUNCED
Opposition Comes Mainly from Adj
vOcates of Mississippi Channel
PrOJect-Rainey Diseerns Hand of
steel Trust I'm BiII-CandIer Sings
Beauties of Tombigbee River.

It was an Interesting field day IN the
House yesterday On the river and har-
Dor bill. Repeatedly protests against the
Cold Spring Inlet project at Cape May
came from the friends Of the Mississippi
channel scheme.
Representative Clark, OF Missouri. in
the course Of a speech On waterways i'm
provements, expressed his opinion Of the
various plans proposed for President
Roosevelt after his retirement in 1909
Some have suggested, he said, that
! the President so TO the United States
Senate If New York intends to continue
the unhappy habit of electing RepubH-
cans TO the Senate. then my voice is for
/ Roosevelt for that position. Another sug-
! gestion is that he shall be president Of
/ Harvard College a noble ambition,
surely. I would rather be president of the
University Of Missouri than be a member
/ Of this House, or member Of the Senate
/ or governor Of that imperial Common
wealth. Another suggestion is that he
devote his life TO literature He would
/ have an immense audience 20 begin with
and It would make him a fortune. An
other is that he shall be perpetual presi-
dent-Of The Hague arbitration tribunal
II is safe 20 say that he would discharge
! the functions OF that high Office with a
great deal Of energy. and what he would
do 10 the other peacemakers who had
plans different from his would be a
plenty.
Might Build Panama Canal.
Another suggestion is that he be made
general manager Of the Panama Canal.
or all these propositions that would be. TO
me, the most tempting To build an
isthmian canal has been the dream Of men
since John Balboa first looked down in
amazement and delight upon the peaceful
ocean. and, If that work is a success. the
man whose name is linked with it viii
write his name upon the scanty list Of the
immortals. Why Shonts OF Wallace or
any other man that had a chance 70 link
his name with # should relinquish that
opportunity for any financial inducement
whatever is one Of those things which.
like the peace Of God, passeth all under
standing. / congratulate the President
and the country upon the fact that he has
disposed Of the Nobel prize In a noble
way"
Concluding, Mr.. Clark pleaded for d
more liberal policy in dealing with river
and harbOr improvements. There Is an
awakening on this subject the world
around. People are awakening 70 the fact
that the success Of the railroads obscured
for while the fact that water transpor-
tation is five or six times cheaper than rail
transportation, and we viii agitate, agi-
tate, and agtate until we get It. The day
is almost here when the Mississippi Valley
viii have a clear working majority Of the
House. and then We WI be able 70 do as
We please. Treat US well now, and we will
treat you well then"
Mr.. Rainey. the Illinois Democratic foe
Of the watch trust. found IN the water
ways bin a policy intended to compel the
country TO pay tribute TO the iron masters
who dominate the steel trusts This be
deduced from the provisions OF the bill
20 improve the Ohio between Pittsburg
and Cairo, and TO make d 14-foOt water
way In the Mississippi below Cairo to
the Gulf This. with the projected Lake
Erie and Pittsburg Canal. would make
necessary, the st. Louis and Chicago IL
foot channel. From somewhere" he
said, IAN iron hand reaches out and at
tempts 10 throttle this project No man
knew until to-day whence this opposition
came The next few years will demon
strate that the attempt 20 regulate rail-
road rates by law has failed. There is
only one way to restore the competitive
system IN this country in the matter of
carrying heavy freights and that way
Is 10 improve our rivers and harbors'
Gambler Breaks Into Song.
Mr.. Gambler, of Mississippi, aroused the
House TO the highest pitch OF applause
by his dizzy flights Of oratory over the
Tombgbee River He finally reached the
point where plain prose failed to express
his feelings, and he adopted verse.
THE Mississippi was never known in
Song" said he; the Missouri and these
other rivers have never inspired the art
Of the poet but the Tombigbee has ap-
pealed to him and to the musician.
have a song here, and intend 10 sing It.
although l am not a singer" There was
applause, and cries Of Sing it,
If there ever was a time when I longed
10.
In that respect my education was neg
lected. bat ! will read it,
There were several verses but the fol-
lowing was doubtless the best:
The AIississippis wide and grand.
The SuEanee's famed in song:
The waters OF the Wabash too.
Flow meTTily along;
But al their BEAUTIES Iale and fade
And have ehaw Cor me,
For have known since childhood DAYS
the dear old Tom-bg- bee!
Speak for the Mississippi.
The construction OF the fourteen-foot
channel between St Louis and Chicago
was advocated by AIessrs. Rodenberp and
Madden. Of Illinois, and Crumpacker. of
Indiana. Tho Illinois members paid con-
siderable attention to the Cold Springs
Inlet Cape May project, for which the
committee included an appropriation in
the bill
Mr.. Shackleford. Of Missouri, argued for
a more liberal policy toward waterways
improvements, announcing his willingness
to vote for an annual appropriation of
fifty or even one hundred millions for
this purpose.
After remarks by Mr. Graf. of Illinois.
favOTing the St Louis and Chicago chan
mel. and Mr. Garrett. Of Tennessee. ad-
vocating larger appropriations for the
Mississippi River, the committee rose
Mr. Tawney, for the Appropriations
Committee. presented a resolution. which
was agreed to, instructing the judiciary
ff..., .s,.fN e. IL.