The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

ellta lairor laws gave or az a4kl4lA1-hA
interview in which he strongly urged the
South and West 20 get together 70 com
bat the overbaIancing power % the East
IN national affairs. He likewise expressed
the belief that the South should be left
alone 10 settle her negro problem. and
disclaimed any purpose OF the Republican
party 70 break the solid South
Wess and south should Unite.
Although 7 was born north OF Mason
and Dixon's line and belong 20 a political
party that IS IN a most impressive minor
fly IN most OF the Southern States. can
not but feel that the interests OF the West
are more nearly IN accord with those Of
the South than they are with the New
England States also feel that tho New
England States have had IN influence IN
national affairs which has not worked
for the benefit OF the great States OF the
Mississippi Valley
Those States should work together 20
restore 10 the great rivers Of that valley
the transportation that they once enjoyed
and which is capable OF being increased
many fold. They must see that pre5u-
dices that belong 10 3 generation which
has now practically passed from the
stage OF action no longer prevent them
from cooperating for the protection Of
their common interests. To my mind
this IS the real significance OF 8Ir. Taft's
statement IN his Inaugural address-that
he hoped 20 bring about during his ad-
ministration q better feeling and a better
understanding between the North and the
South. II is not his idea and - IS not the
purpose Of the Republican party 20 secure
the electoral votes OF the States OF the
South
II might say. parenthetically, that the
Republican party is doing very wen with
oUt these votes in national elections.
What Mr.. Taft desires 10 accomplish.
and what the conservative leaders OF the
Republican party desire 10 see accom-
DIshed- Is JhEt prejudices which belong
20 a past period shall not work 70 the
discrimination % the Southern States CT
10 prevent them from cooperating with
other sections OF the country, with which
they have common Interest As a Re
publican governor Of a state that has in
terests in common with North, South.
East. and West I feel that I can freely
express these sentiments.
south Can Handle Negro Problem.
7 also Believe that the people OF the
North have generally come 20 realize that
the southern people understand the negro
and the negro question better than the
I people Of the North. and the prevailing
sentiment seems 70 be that the solution
OF the question ought 70 be left 70 the
people OF the South within the limits
/ prescribeS by the Federal Constitution
The establishment % schools flr the
education OF the negro and the enactment
o. laws providing educational qua-fca-
tons Applicable 70 both races IN many O
+ the Southern States are manifestations OF
+ the present attitude toward this problem
on the part q the Southern people. I
i feel confident that with this issue out OF
I tne way the community o. interests that
exist between the states OF the AIisslsslp-
F pi Valley VIII cause those States 70 work
f together IL national affairs for the accom-
piishuent Of those results which yin
+ eventually be o. iaestiuable value 70 the
entire country.
Child Labor and Transportation.
TO my mind the child labor problem
/ has a significance and Importance which
I IS broader than that which relates 10 the
+ consideration OF tie concrete question the
+ convention was called 70 discuss L Is OF
the highest Importance that the States OF
the Mississippi Valley, both those north
as wen as south or Mason and Dixon-s
I line. should come 70 understand THAI they
nave common problems and common IN
/ Uerests and they must work together f0r
ttheir solution. The question OF the reEu-
lation q child labor IS only one OF these
{ questions.
The question OF transportation is the
great problem Of commerce and even OF
I civilization Itself, for the carrying OF thar
7 which Is produced by human labor from
a place where II Is OF little OF no value 20
IA place where Il Is OF sufficient value 20
! compensate the cost Of its production g
/ the underlying principle Of all commercial
activity and also Of organized society.
E.skcs-tO-the-EuIf Waterway.
I mo movement IN all the ages has been
I calculated to more closely bind the people
/ OF the Central North. West, and South BY
closer commercial ties than IS the I'm
/ provement OF our great inland water
ways The opening Up Of q navigable
waterway from the Great Lakes 70 New
/ Orleans VIII virtually give Chicago. s..
\ Louis and al the cities and towns OF the
valley tidewater advantages. In Europe
/ they have made hugely important trade
/ routes OF all the streams In which a navi-
i gable depth Of tWenty-fOUr inches was
I obtainable. over here. until recently. we
3 have neglected great streams IN which
minimum depth OF four OF Eve feet has al
along been obtaineble-
In a very little while now the AIissis-
/ sippi. the Ohio. the Missouri. the Teunes-
see. the Red. and other tributaries not
only viii be opened 20 all-the-year navl-
cation. but VIII be navigated BY freight
carrying boats. When that day comes
valley commerce VIII move north AID
/ south as nature intended and not east
I and west 20 meet the dividend demands
OF the railroad magnates.
THE monster benefits that viii accrue
10 the people Of the valley and 20 the na-
ton AT large from these improvements
and he rami6cati0ns incident 20 such
changes viii create many common prob
lens Tor all States directly affected %
solve and VIII necessitate common effOrt.
a better understanding. and q more thor
ough general cooperation
Just now and during many years past
The Washington authorities have. seem
ingly, done as much for the Atlantic
coast in this direction as possible and as
little for The Gulf coast as possible The
Atlantic coast is entitled 20 al that Il
needs In the way OF protection and we
] VIII Ao- oppose s0ch a programme We
are also entitled n adequate protection
and should join hands in bringing ;he
government 20 recognize our needs and
III them
a fortified nsvsl. base should be e.
tablished on the Lover Mississippi River.
the forts below New Orleans should be
brought 20 the highest state OF efficiency
and kept In that condition. and the in
1 VestOrS and developers OF the great val
ley should be made 70 feel that they and
their affairs are not subject 10 damage or
destruction from the gunhoats OF al