The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-24
Capt. J, r, Ellison Is tnthus-
 iaSiic Over Coming Meeting COUNTRY IS READY ID ACT
Captain Ellison Says the Recognition of Plans and Encouragement Of
 fered by President Taft
 Causes Big Enthusiasm.

Washington, July 23.-(Special) )-Capt J. F. Ellison of Cincinnati, secretary of the National Rivers and Harbors congress, ar rived in Washington today for the pur- pose of arranging details of the sixth annual convention of this great waterway convention which will be held in this city December 8, and 10, next.
 "The coming convention will outdo all meetings heretofore held for the improve ment of the waterways of the United States said Secretary Ellison. "The fact that President Taft is to honor the convention by delivering an address on waterways has aroused great enthusiasm in all sections of the country.
 This is evidenced by letters from every state in the union congratulating the Ma tional Rivers and Harbors congress in having secured the President to open the convention in a speech outlining his po- sition toward the waterways of the coun- try. While gratofication is general it is especially pleasing to the friends of MT. Taft in Ohio and I may say that his acceptance has produced better feeling in business and club circles of the Pres idents home city than has been shown
 
 Plans for the convention are much farther advanced at this time than ever before and already the list of speakers shows that the convention is going to be the biggest ever held by the national congress of waterways enthusiasts. | have seen the National Rivers and Har- bors convention grow from 60o, in l9O6, to 33O0, in 1908, and l feel that l am conservative when l predict that there will be 5000 delegates in attendance upon the meeting of next December.
 The propaganda which was carried on by the National Rivers and Harbors congress has begun to bear fruit for the sentiment Is growing in favor of com prehensive plan for the development of our rivers, harbors and canals and l be- lieve the convention of next December will show conclusively thattthe country is ready for some fixed policy of wa terway improvements"
 Four Aces in Deal.
 A delegation opposed to the Senate cot ton schedule was interviewing Senator Deliver today, telling him of the manner in which the rates were raised in spite of the insistence of Senator Aldrich that they remain at the old figure. Tt reminds me of the game out in Reno said the senator. "The dealer was very deftly snuff fling and dealing 'em up, and spectator who stood behind him saw that he dealt himself four aces. Being an unsophis- ticated person, not acquainted with the rules of the game as it was played In that town. he didn't like to see the patrons robbed He edged around to a big Dutch man who was sitting in the game, and, leaning over him, said, in a low tone, Look out this hand; he dealt himself four aces
 eVot pissnes Is i'd of yours, mine vrendt, about deze gamer demanded the Dutchman.
 .'But I'm trying to tell yon because you ought to know 1t, that l saw him deal himself four aces.
 Say, meester,' said the Dutchman, you'd better geed oudt of here; you dond understan desc game. Vot of he did deal himself four aces; aind i'd his dea1?'
 And that's all there is to it." con- cuded MT Deliver. Its their deal, and guess anybody who interferes is liable to get thrown out"
 The Pirate Ship.
 Representative Gardner of Massachu- setts, one of the leading free hid advo- cates, but opposed to the reduction of duties on the manufactured product, has this story told upon him by one of his colleagues: when 'Gussie' Gardner was little boy an uncle was telling him of how his great-grandfather, who was a big mer- chant in his day, traded in his own ships to the East Indies, and one time pirates captured one of his ships. It was a fine and bloodthirsty story, and little 'Gusse' was deeply interested. " But, uncle,' he asked, after the mar rative had been finished. how much did great-grandfather lose by the pirate cap turing that ship?'
 Uncle stopped moment, and then re- piled, T don't know, Gussie. It depends on how much interest he had in the pirate ship that made the capture