Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-03
ROOSEVELT FAVORS
inland CANAL
Announces Unequivocal En-
dorsement OF General Prin-
ciple OF Ship Channel
POINTS OUT MANY OBSTACLES
Roosevelt Careful to Say That He
Would Not Give His Assent to Any
Particular Scheme of Improvement,
But Promises All the Assistance He
Can Give.

Roosevelt stepped ashore here at y
o'clock TODAY. he manifested every evil
dence of having spent comfortable
night on the steamboat Mississippi.
He retired about midnight, and there
was little to disturb his rest, except
two or three brief noisy demonstra-
tions on shore during the first part OIL
the night, He was guest at dln-
ner on the steamer Alton, OF the BUS
mess Mems league of st. Louis. An
important feature of the dinner was
the fact that the scheme of a ship
channel from the gulf to the lakes re-
ceived an impetus which all believe
will do much towards insuring the
earnest pressing Of that enterprise.
The occasion was also notable in that
in addition to the president 1t was
attended by no fewer than fifteen gov
ernors, members Of the inland water
ways commission and several repre-
sentatiyes of the business world of
St. Louis.
Endorsement Unequivceal.
President Roosevelt was the princi-
pal speaker. 1t was requested that his
speech be not reported, but he con-
sented that a statement might be made
that he had announced unequivocally
his endorsement of the general prin-
ciple involved in the scheme for the
creation of ship channel up the river
and to the great lakes. AS he stated
the case, he would have a loop in the
gulf at New Orleans that would prac-
tically create an arm of that body of
water to the lakes. AT the same time,
he was most careful to say that he
would not give his assent to any par
ticular Improvement. He also pointed
out many obstacles of carrying into
effect any plan of such vast propor-
tions and involving so much expense.
While promising all the assistance he
could give, he told his hearers the only
way to make success certain was to so
thoroughly prepare themselves as to
render their arguments unanswerable.
The speech was greeted with pro-
longed applause. and this endorsement
took the shape of words, when Cover
nors Folk Deneen and Blanchard
SpohO. AL VI lilCiII PiCdSSN SbOAi H.
most efforts in the furtherance of the
enterprise. The president was pre-
sented with an oil painting of a sec
ton of the Mississippi river under pres
ent conditions after the completion
of waterway" was promised for the
future
During the night there were pro-
nounced demonstrations as the presi-
Dental boat passed Cape Girardeau
and Grand Tower, but they came too
late to receive recognition from the
president. The Mississippi was escorted
down the river from st. Louis to Cairo
by ten other boats, and it was met
early in the morning by a huge excur-
sion steamer from this city, carrying
several hundred passengers. The pres
ident and his party were driven to ST.
Marys park, where an immense crowd
was assembled. Mayor Parsons intro
duced Governor Deneen, Of Illinois,
who in turn introduced the president.
10000 Hear Speech.
Roosevelt and his party arrived at
the wharf about O'clock. and were
saluted by the Danville battery of hun
dreds Of steamboat and other whistles.
Fifty carriages, all drawn by white
horses, conveyed the party to st.
Mary's park. A squad of police and
the Fourth regiment of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard, headed by the Fifth reg
imental band, lead the procession. On
their arrival at the park. Mayor Par
sons introduced Governor Deneen, who
addressed the people briefly and then
introduced Roosevelt, who spoke from
9:40 to 10:50, after which the party
returned to the boats and remained in
port until II o'clock, when the fleet
started for Memphis, amid booming
cannon and popular demonstrations.
Over 10000 people listened to the
speech and there would have been
more, but excursion trains had been
delayed in arriving after the conclusion
of the speech.
Continuous Ovation to President.
Ovation after ovation was given the
president during his speech. Over
5000 people gave the president a con-
tinuous ovation as he passed, and thou
sands of school children cheered Justify
Before he delivered his speech, the
president made some extemporaneous
remarks, the outline of his position on
the deep waterway project.
SIX GENERALS GIVEN A SNlIR