Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-09-17
Big Fleet Of Steamers Will
Accompany President
Dow" Mississippi
Great Rivalry Among Gov.
eminent Graft for Honor
Of Garry Roosevelt

Washington, Sept. Unless re-
ports reaching Washington are ex-
aggerated, theer is strong possibili-
ty of a naval civil war on the Missis-
sippi. Three powerful rival follow
ings have joint control of the fleet
that is to bear and escort President
Roosevelt from Keokuk, Iowa to
Memphis on his forthcoming trip
downit river. The triumvirate and
their merry, merry men have joint
control just now hWether the bit
ter rivalry will lead to break, and
the decks Of the steamers Mackenzie
and Mississippi and the sturdy little
lighthouse tender. Lily. be cleared
for action, remains to be seen If
the fued goes much further, there
is talk Of calling out the Missouri
Horse Marines to prevent the threa-
tened uprising. ,.3 .: "a et s5
The entire trouble arises over the
selection of the vessel that will car
ry the presid lent. The lighthouse
board is Furnishing the brasswork
and otherwise securing the Lily to a
point where the natives will find it
necessary to wear smoked glasses
when the triumphai procession flash
es past; General Mackenzie declares
the snagboat bearing his name will
be chosen, while the Mississippi Riv-
er commission insists that the honor
must fall to them and the President
will sail the raging Father of Wat
ers in the stanch craft, Mississippi.
Officials here who have. had most
to do with preparations for the pre-
sidential tour of inspection decline
to be drawn into the controversy.
So far as known, no selection has
yet been made, and the boat on which
the president will travel may be any
one or all of the three. He may.
take the tender, Lily, from Keokuk
to st. Louis, changing there to the
Mississippi and transferring from that
vessel to the Mackenzie at Cairo.
or some other point down the stream.
In this way everyone of the warning
factions would be satisfied and the
danger of a series of sanguinary nav
al battles on the Mississippi swirl
ing tide be dissipated.
In addition to the president. prac-
tically the full strength of the In
land Waterways commission will join
in the jaunt The members viii en-
bark on the Mackenzie at st. Paul,
and will reach Keokuk in time to
greet Mr.. Roosevelt and accompany
him. Awaiting the president and the
commission at Keokuk VIII the the
Mississippi River commission in full
force, with blazing bands and flags
everywhere, except on the smoke
stack and the paddle wheels of their
vessel fsis5S
Unofficially, members of the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors congress
will take part in the trip that is to
mean so much for the Development
of water traffic. This organization
as is well known, has won the high
est commentator from President
Roosevelt for its campaign to have
the federal government appropriate
annually not less than $50, 900, 900 for
the prosecution Of Improvement work
on the rivers and harbors of the
United States, Congressman Rams
dell, of Louisiana, its president, Will
be with the party, and Captain r.
Ellison, of Cincinnati, secretary and
treasurer, will probably abandon his
hunt for new members in order tic
t8go along. Business men, members
Of the organization from all over
the country also will be present.
One of the features Of the naval
PROCESSION win be the presence d
nearly two hundred highly decorat
ed craft, which will trail along be
hind the presidential flagship Ev
cry kind, description and style Q!
craft will be represented. and
the Stars and Stripes will be every
where. Aside from the interest sucI
q trip will arouse In federal circles
the stimulation given to the whole
question Of waterway improvement
cannot fail to be great and Of vas
benefit to the country at large.
Bargains.
Your half dollar can do you mos