Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-04
OBJECTIONS ARE BASED
ON LuRToN's DECISIONS
Waterways Development and Railway
Control Closely Allied Questions -
Tom Dawson Has Important Work
Cut Out For Him in Dealing With
Latin America.
Especial Correspondence

President Taft, in the name Of organ
lied labor, against the nomination Of
Circuit Judge Horace II. Lurton to he
supreme judge.
MIR. Gompers' action, 1t became
known today, was taken on the occa-
sion of a recent visit to the White
House. Despite the fact that he was
an ardent supporter of Bryan a year
ago, Mr.. Gompers has maintained the
most amiable relations with President
Taft, and outwardly at least there has
been every indication that the head of
the American Federation is going to be
Just as welcome at the executive es-
tabl1shment under the Taft adminis-
trauon as he was under that of Roose-
welt. President Roosevelt frequently
conferred with Gompers, while John
Mitchell, another of the men re-
Gently sentenced to Jail for violation of
federal injunction, was known as an
intimate friend in whose counsel Mr..
Roosevelt placed the greatest reliance.
Whether the advice of the labor
leaders will have so much weight with
President Taft as it had with his
predecessor, is a question concerning
which there are some serious doubts.
In the matter of Judge Lurton, it is
certain that Mr.. Gompers has run
counter to the very decided desires and
preferences of the president, who is ex-
tremely anxious to have Judge Lurton
placed on the supreme bench
1t is understood that Mr.. Gompe-s'
TN Ind ,,rf0,, 1o-
Oh certain decisions of the latter m
cases in which injuries to railroad en-
ployes, and their actions for damages
arising therefrom, were involved. Pres
!oent Taft, it is understood, did not
feet that MIR. Gompers had an under
standing of these cases which did JUS
tice to Judge Lurton. Whether the
objection of the labor leader has given
the president any uncertainty about
the desirablity of making the appoint
ment is very much doubted by people
who know how deeply interested the
president is in making this appoint
ment.
There is no intilnation of the course
which the labor organization will take
In the event that their objections to
Judge Lurton receive no consideration.
That there is serious chance Of earn
est opposition to confirmation of Judge
Lurton in the senate, is now known.
Recently it has been learned in Wash
ington that the jurist's record on the
bench and certain Of his decisions have
been under investigation by certain
publications which are expected to
start a fight against him If they find
that there is ground, in their view, for
taking position Of opposition. The
possibility of a contest both earnest
and prolonged is beginning to be re-
garded as by no means negligible.
The movement for development Of
the nations waterways seems likely to
develop this winter into movement,
of no small magnitude, for new sort
of regulation of the, railroads.
The national rivers and harbors con-
gress, which viii be held in this city
early this month, has invited Herbert
Knox Smith, commissioner of corpora
tions, to deliver an address on river
terminals. In DONG this, the officers
of the congress have had in mind their
desire to develop in the strongest pos
sible and the need for such regulation
of the railroads as will prevent their
freeing traffic off the rivers by dint of
unrestricted and unfair competition.
Mr.. Smiths bureau has completed
and has now in press a long report on
waterways, bearing especially on the
terminals. 1t is known that this re-
port will bring out the fact that the
railroads. by reason of owning almost
all the river front real estate in large
cities, that is available for terminals
for river lines, practically hold the key
to the whole river commerce situation.
The boat lines must have the privilege
of using land owned by the railroads,
| If they are to be able to do business.
| This condition has of late come to be
regarded as most serious.
Mr.. Smiths forthcoming report will
deal with great detail with this con-
ditior of affairs, and because of this he
alton to the congress. Mr.. Smith has
not given his promise whether he will
deliver the address, but it is under
stood that he will do so If, after con-
ference with President Taft, he feels
that it is advisable to forecast the
forthcoming official report on these
matters.
Representative Ransdell, of Louisi-
ana, president of the rivers and harbors
congress, is deeply interested in this
question of terminal, and of the rela
tons OF the railroads 10 river traffic
He said today in an interview that he
fully realized that it is within the
power of the railroads, as matters now
stand, practically to prevent business
developing on the rivers, and that nc
matter how much money may be spent
on the rivers or how inviting their
channels may be made to traffic. The
difficulties of making such legislation
effective he, fully realizes; but he is
decidedly of the view that it must be
done, as 1t has been done in European
countries.
sympathy with the views of Represent
ative Burton, and it is understood, OF
the majority of the waterways commits
sion. The impression is gaining ground
that instead Of putting forward a com
prehensive plan for spending q vas1
amount of money on the waterways
the coming session is much more likely
to devote itself to consideration Of thi.
problem Of relations between rail an6
waterways, on the theory that 1T Is 6
necessary preliminary to the usefu
and effective development OF the latter
: About the busiest man In the pub.
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