The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-08
FOR DEEPER
 WATERWAYS Great Convention Opens
 in Chicago. JUDGE TAFT MAKES ADDRESS Need of a Lakss-to-the-Gulf
 Waterway. Prominent Speakers Give Authoritative Utterances on Subject of Deep Waterways and Their Need
 in This Country.

Chicago H.. Oct. 7.-To-day's utter ances were authoritative. for they came from Secretary Saunders. of the Associations; President kavanauSh. head of the organization; Governor Charles s. Deneen, of Illinois. who spoke of the first link of the great waterway-the Chicago Drainage Ca nal--and William H. Taft. who had general supervision in Washington in the building of tho Panama canal, un- til he resigned to become the Presi- dentiaI nominee of the Republican party.
 The need of such a waterway was insisted upon by every speaker. The question of transportation, 1t was de- clared, Is one of the most serious questions with which this country has to deal. Judge Taft's insistenee that not only the deep waterway. but the conservation of the national resources were related subjects which called for immediate action, elicited great ap- plause. His statement that the water way was not a project but policy found a ready response In cheers of his auditors.
 If there had been any doubt as to the need of Q akes-to-the-gulf wa terway among the thousands of dele gates and visitors gathered from all parts Vl IHc 4e tnHy NGEC Ato~ pelled when Judge Taft said:
 We find that during the ten years ending with 1905. the Internal Com merce of our country has increased 11S per cent. while railroad transporta- ton facilities during the same time have increased only 20 per cent. It has been pointed out that to supply this deficiency by the constructions of additional railroads and necessary ter tv.a1 yzkrl Nnl lr.p ..Mk ment of $500, 100000. and this con- struction when completed would make no provision for the further increase of our commerce"
 The only solution of. tbis problem. the speaker found in deep waterways.
 Convention Opens.
 The convention opened ut 10 o'clock with a prayer by Bishop Samuel Fall lows. of Chicago. William K Kava- then delivered his annual address. and william F.. Saunders, secretary. read his report.
 While appointments were being made on. various committees Delegate Caldwell, of Memphis. created a di. version by recommending the re-clec- ton, unanimously, vociferously and by a rising vote" of the officers of the association, as a mark of appre-
 
 President Kavahaugh, rapping sharply for cessation of the ap- plause. which greeted the suggestions, declared that the compliment was em- barrasslng in view of the fact that there was regular method of nomi, nalon provided for and left the mat ter to the delegates themselves. Del egate Caldwell to rescue MT. Kava- naugh from his predicament, put the motion himself said cries of "no. no" from various sections of the theatre where members of the association, while heartily approving of tho con duct of affatrs by the present officers were in favor of pursuing ordinary methods of selection. LaFayette Young of nes Moines, Iowa. in the confusion. arising from the fact that many delegates did not know what was before the house, saved the situ- ation by rising to point of order. He reminded the delegates that the convention had not yet organized. and hence, could not transact any bust ness other than the appointment by caueuses of committees. Being sus- -tained by the chair: the work of mak- ing up the committees proceeded until there came an interruption for which all had been waiting.
 This was the appearance of jrud1a Taft. Smiling and somewhat hoarse clothed in a plain business suit. inc Republican candidate entered the stage. preceded by Governor Deneen of Illinois. The orchestra struck up The Star Spangled Banner" and the crowd. which had been slow in com Ing. but now filled the big auditorium. cheered and waved small American flags which had been given to every visitor upon entering the hall.
 Governor Deneen. himself hoarse from the vocal activities of a guber- material campaign. said in introduce ing the speaker of the day:
 Our State occupies a unique posi- ton with reference to the matters which you are to discuss. It is low. est in elevation and most uniform in topography in the Mississippi Valley. and because of that, the waters of the continent. the interior waters. those of the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cum berland and Missouri and the upper Mississippi pass our State on their way to the sea, and across our State. too, must be forged the final link which