The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-02
TAFT'S SUGGESTION THAT TIME
FOR SPEECH MAKING
a HAS PASSED
ADOPTED.
DAVID R. FRANCIS
OFFERS RESOLUTION
And II Was Adopted With Whoop-
Cannon Sends Encouraging Let
ter---Ransdeli Favors Levees
And Says Public Should
Own Landings.

New OfieanS, NOV. line adOp-
ton of Taft's suggestion that the time
for oratory is past the waterways con-
vention, to the accompaniment Of
cheers, this evening decided to send
five hundred lobbyists to Washington
10 demand that congress deepen the
Mississippi river. The action fol-
of the temper of the delegates was
dispelled when the climax came.
Charles Scott of Mississippi, chair.
man of the committee on resolutions,
had just completed reading his report
and the perfunctory applause was dy-
ing away when former governor Da-
vid r. Francis. of Missouri, secured
recognition, and declared:
'In one thing at least, agree with
Mr. President that is that the time
for speeches has passed. The way to
dig this channel is to dig it, The
people who must dig it are the feder.
al officers. The Mississippi river is
under the control of the federal gov.
ernment We of the states cannot i'm
prove it If we would. am sick of the
delays and excuses. Coming down
the river | listened to questions in
Vulnerable as to the feasibility and
practicability of the fourteen foot
plan The plan has been declared
practicable and feasible by board
composed largely of army engineers
All we need is money. The tederal
government must have to provide that
and will if we make them. Therefore
sir | move we adopt the following
resolution;
Resolved That the president ot
the Lakes.to-the-Gulf Deep sWater
ways association, be requested tC
appoint 500 delegates to visit Wash
ington and present to the proper com
mittee of congress and to the heads
OF our government, resolutions adopt
ed at this convention and at the same
time act as delegates to the River:
and Harbors Congress to be held IN
Washington, Dec. 8, and TO-
There was silence for a moment
in the big hall, where the twilight was
but lightly dispelled by the illumina
tion. Then some one gave the rebe
yell, and the resolution was adopted
with a whoop. The regular report o.
the resolutions committee was alst
adopted. These insisted. I'VE should
and without needless delay enter up
on a definite policy of waterway de
velopment, beginning with the i'm
provement Of the Mississippi and Hi
nois rivers as the main trunk of The
great waterways system, in such ;
way as to open effective navigation
between the Gulf of Mexico and the
Great Lakes, the trunk line to be de
veloped with no disparagement of an,
constant reference to the concurren
development of the tributaries, ca
nails and connecting passages requiret
for comprehensive navigation adapt
ed to the rapidly growing commercial
needs"
The resolutions reclted as one }
the reasons for the demands, that th
Mississippi valley contains more thai
one-half the population of the Unite,
States. The arguments Of the onpon
ents were condemned. Bonds of small
denominations were urged and de
velopment of waterways as an ii
yestment rather than a succession 0
piece meal experiments is de
manded
Above all it was insisted that
minimum depth of fourteen feet Il
low water was one of the cardna
principles of the association.
The convention adjourned for tn
day in whirlwind OF enthusiast