The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-08

l when stately ships shall carry the rich products of the central states from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, through a deep waterway, returning with products of no less value, was conjured l up today before the delegates and visitors i to the third annual convention of the Lakes to-the-Gulf Waterways association by able speakers, headed by Judge Will liam H. Taft
 Today's utterances were authoritative, for they came from Secretary Saunders of the association, President Kavanaugh, head of the organization; Gov. Charles H. Deneen of Illinois, who spoke of the first link of the great waterway-the Chi cago drainage canal-and William H. Taft. who had general supervision in Washington of the Panama canal until ] he resigned to become the presidential nominee of the republican party. i The need of such a waterway was in- sisted upon by every speaker. The ques- ton of transportation, it was declared, is one of the most serious questions with which this country has to deal. Judge Tafts insistence that not only the deep waterway, but the conservation of the , for immediate attention elicited great ap- plause. His statement that the water ways was not project but policy found a ready response in cheers of his aud itors.
 Taft's Argument. If there had been any doubt as to the need of a lakes-to-the-gulf waterway among the thousands of delegates and vis- itors gathered from all parts of the coun- try, they were dispelled when Judge Taft said:
 We find that during the 10 years end ing with 1905 the internal commerce of our country has increased 11s per cent. while railroad transportation facilities during the same time have increased only 20 per cent. It has been pointed out that to supply this deficiency by the construc- tion of additional railroads and necessary terminals would require a capital invest ment of $5, 800 000,00o, and this construction when completed would make no provision for the further increase of our com- merce."
 The only solution of the problem the speaker found in deep waterways. The convention opened at 10 o'clock with a prayer by Bishop Samuel Fallows of Chi cago. William K. Kavanaugh, president of the association, then delivered his an- nual address and William F. Saunders. secretary, read his report.
 While appointments were being made on various committees Delegate Caldwell of Memphis created a diversion by recom- i mending the reelection, unanimously, vocferously and by rising vote" of the officers of the association, as mark of | appreciation of their work. Order In Proceedings. l President Kavanaugh, rapping sharp l ly for a cessation~of the applause which l greeted the suggestions, declared that the compliment was embarfasing in l view of the fact that there was a | regular method of nomination provided for and left the matter to the dele l gates tn emselves. Delegate Caldwell. to rescue MT. Kavanaugh from his pre- -dicament, put the motion himself amid 1 cries of~Hno, no" from various sec l tions of the theatre where members of l the association, while heartily approv- i ing of the conduct of affairs by the l present officials, were in favor of pur- suing orderly methods of selection. La Fayette Young of Des Moines la, in the l confusion rising from the fact that | before the house, saved the situation l by.rfsing to a point of order. He re- 1 minded the delegates that the conven- tion had not yet organized, and hence, 1 could not transact any business other l than the appointment of caucuses of 1 committees. Being sustained by the ] chair the work of making up the com mittees proceeded until there came l an interruption for which all had been 1 waiting
 This was the appearance of Judge l Taft Smiling and somewhat hoarse, cloth ed in a plain business suit. the | republican candidate entered the stage preceded by Governor Deneen of H. l linois. The orchestra struck up 9Th Q Star Spangled Banner" and the crowd, which had been slow in coming 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 gubernatorial l campaign, said in introducing the | speaker of the day:
 Deenen Introduces Taft.
 "Our state occupies unique position with reference to the matters which you are to discuss. It is the lowest in elevation, and the most uniform in | and because of that the waters of tn c continent, the interior waters, those ot the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cubmer- land and Missouri and the upper Mis- sissippi, pass our state on their way to the sea- and across our state, too, must be forged the final link which will connect the Great Lakes with the great gulf.
 Within two years of the adjourn ment of your first convention, our leg islature submitted to the people an amendment to the constitution, which will allow us to incur an indebtedness of $20,0O0,00O for the purpose of dig ging one link of this great project. This amount will be submitted to the people at the coming election, and it will be carried"
 Judge Taft was cheered as he rose, prefacing his prepared speech with an apology for his hoarseness.
 | Gentlemen" he said "I must apol- ogise for my voice. If it sounds like the 'honk' of an automobile it may be fla miiar to you, but not particularly agree able to you on that account"
 You don't have to apologize for any thing shouted a delegate from the rear amid applause and the speaker launched forth into argument for the water way.
 Taft's Address.
 MT. Taft said:
 l "I am honored by an invitation to ad, dress this important body and although under great pressure I feel it to be my duty to come here and express my deep l sympathy with its objects