The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-06
GOV. COMER IN,
 WASHINGTON He Favors Bigger Appropriation. SPEECH CORDIALLY RECEIVED Paints a Rosy Picture of Future of
 Mobile. The Railway and the River Transpor- tation Interests, the Governor In-
 sisted, Will Have to
 Work Together.
BY ALFRED J. STOPPER.


 Washington, Dec 5.-(Special.)-- Governor Conner made the closing ad- dress at the afternoon session of the River and Harbors Congress today.
 All of the Alabama Congressional delegation were present and listened attentively to his remarks, as well as the delegates from the State. Chair man Ransdell in inroducing the Gov ernor. said the convention had listened to talks from distinguished men from the North and West. and he wanted them to hear something from the ex- ecutive of one of the greatest of the States in Dixie Land. Loud applause greeted this announcement.
 Governor Conner spoke for twenty minutes without notes. He commenced by emph atically declaring that he was earnestly in favor of the improvement of the waterways. He was as much for improvement of the rivers as were Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for the tariff because it would help along business in his section of country.
 The Governor then discussed the proposition for the all-water route between the lakes and the Gulf, and spoke of the intense interest felt in this movement by the, Mississippi Val- ley States and those adjacent. Ala bama. he said, was interested In the fourteen-foot movement. He next dwelt upon the importance of improv- ing the Tennessee River. It was a great stream, and as important to the commerce of the South as Is the Ohio to the States along whose borders 1t flows and upon which the National Government had properly spent mil lions of dollars in aid of navigation.
 I've want all these rivers improved he exclaimed, want them opened up to move our commerce.
 Earlier in the day, Governor Glenn had told of the wonderful progress of North Carolina. Governor Conner in re- ferring to his speech, remarked that Alabama had more tonnage to move than Georgia and North Carolina com bined. He created much merriment by referring to the heavy shipment oi Coolers and chairs of North Carolina and then he spoke of the immense tom mage in the Birmingham district alone from which iron was even sent to Providence. Rhode Island, which was like carrying coals to New Castle
 Conner Answers Hill.
 Tn his speech today, James J. Hill. the railroad magnate. in alluding to the regulation of the railways. and the drastic laws enacted in some of the States. created much applause by say ing DO not amputate your leg at the hip because you have a corn on the little toe" Governor Conner in refer ring to that statement, said that sometimes the corn Is permitted to re- main unattended to, until 1t gives blood poisoning to the entire system. This provoked much applause and also laughter.
 Governor Conner insisted that the pro- ducer must be protected because he makes the wealth of the country. Re- garding the value of the South's cotton 4h1 al the nation by bringing money from abroad, and referred gleefully to statement he saw recently in the papers that Southern planters should be forced to sell their cotton right off in order to save the financies of the nation.
 The Governor said next that Alabama had a great harbor in Mobile and hu- morously mentioned that some people down there wished to secede because of prohibition in Alabama. He painted a rosy picture of Mobiles future as i harbor and receiving point for products of export, and then the world would see how much Alabama can send through a port of which the whole State would be proud.
 Railway and river transportation in- terests he insisted. will have to work together. In closing he declared com
 
 rule the earth, and with much empha- sis said he was in favor of one hun dred million dollars for the improve ment of the waterways or as many more millions as were necessary to sat- isfy the demands of commerce.
 J. Hampton Moore of Philadelphia, spoke particularly of the project of the construction of canal from Bos- ton to Beaufort, N. C.. and thence to Florida.
 Governor Cummins of Iowa, in a forceful address, said 1t was evident that the United States must either stop doing business or must bring to the railroads the mighty help of the wa terways of the land.
 Arthur Knox. a business man of New York delivered a carefully prepared address dealing with the transportation problem from the viewpoint of a resi- dent of the metropolis.
 Governor Hoke Smith of Georgia, the principal speaker at tonightS session, met with an enthusiastic reception. The Governor stated that he had no partic- ular scheme to advocate and assured the convention that the section be rep resented is thoroughly in sympathy with the objects sought to be accomp- lished.
 Governor smith declared that the in- fluence of railroads in politics had helped in the past to check proper ap- nropriations for the development of the waters of the country.
 Governor Conner expects to go to New York City tomorrow afternoon and will remain there several days before start ing for Montgomery. It was reported here. based on some telegrams which came from down South" that several of the Governors while in Washington ox,~,cted to confer with railway off cials regarding the contentious that are going on. Governor Conner says he has no such appointment. and knows of no conference that is to be held.
 ~Cs 1oYuSIANA D.