Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-16
ROOSEVELT, TAFT, ROOT CAMPAIGN At PUBLIC EXPENSE

I am inclined to believe that within
one week after congress assemblies the
paper trust will be put on the de-
fensive, and the first stroke will be
dealt at the tariff as it is now con-
sututed. Either the Republican press
will have to be satisfied with the
statement that to touch one part of
the tariff means to destroy it all or
else it will have to meet the argu-
ment that if free pulp from Canada is
good for newspapers free lum Der from
Canada might be good for the farmer
who wants to increase the size of his
home or build another barn.
Rivers as Highways.
How much President Roosevelt's trip
down the Mississippi and his enthusi-
astic speech on the subject OF the i'm
provement of our waterways may af-
feet congress in the next two or three
sessions is yet to be determined Ger
tainly, however. it is a good thing for
the country that the chief magistrate
should even thus belatedly discover
| that the rivers of the west form great
natural highways which, If properly
| improved and conserved, might do
more to correct railroad discrimina-
| lions and eXtortions than any legisla-
| ton carried through with the aid of a
I big stick. 1t is curious to one who re-
members political history to recall that
back in 1892, when Mr.. Bryan was 4
member of congress, he was a regular
| A.
| land Waterways association and that
very much of his strength in the mid
| die west came from his warm advo-
cacy of the views which the president
is at this late date expressing. That.
/ however, is merely a matter of an
Gent history. All of the country. even
remotely tributary to the Mississippi
and the navigable streams which flow
hinto it, is glad today that the presi-
dent has found occasion to look for
himself into the problems of waterway
transportation and has declared that
the rivers deserve the same attention
from congress that the railroads now
! have. 1t is believed in Washington
that he will make q strong recon-
mendation for larger appropriations for
the Mississippi.
And as to the Navy.
And. as to naval appropriations, look
! out for surprises in the presidents
message and in the report of the secre
tary of the navy. Some timOfous PEG
pie, mollycoddies perhaps or milksops
| expressed a fear that when the Allan.
a., xN,.Ia +A h.
ocean there would instantly arise q
cry. for the building of another feet
equally strong to guard the Atlantic
| This was strenuously denied at the
time by the spokesman of the admin
istratiOn. But the demand has already
been voiced. Admiral Evans, the pet
of the navy department, printed with
in two days two column interview il
4 New York newspaper in which he in
sisted that the American navy should
he the greatest in the world. greater
even than England's, and you will re
member that it is the fixed policy OF
England to make its navy superior il
strength to those of any two continen
tai nations combined. One hundred ant
fifty million dollars was the figure
which Admiral Evans fixed as Il fail
appropriation Tor shipbuilding within
the next two years. 1t will be surpris
ing, indeed if with the main feet or
the Pacific coast and the Atlantic sea
board stripped bare tremendous pres
sure will not be brought to bear upoi
congress for naval appropriation:
J which if they do not stagge
, humanity will certainly stagger tn
taxpayers
Meantime the price of all foodstuff'
to the retail purchaser in the United
States has gone up 80 per cent and i
still ascending.
: Washington, D. G.
i WILLIS J. ABBOTT.