The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-11-04
President Taft Addresses Ma.
tional Waterways Conven-
tion at New Orleans.
Our Popular President Spends Three
Days Among the Creoies and Cap
lures the Love Of the Women and
the Admiration Of the Men Of
Louisiana-Tells Them They May
Command Him When They Decide
Exactly What They Want.

New Orleans, La. Nov. 1.-Presi-
dent Taft spent Saturday and Sunday
In New Orleans and this immediate
vicinity.
In his formal address here the
President reiterated his previous dec
larations in favor of bond issues to
consummate the great inland water
ways projects.
With President Taft declaring him
self squarely In favor of a bond is
sue for the development of the coun-
try's inland waterways and the Gov
ernors of twenty States voicing as
surances of their hearty sympathy
with the movement for such improve
ment. the first day Of the Lakes to
the Gulf Deep Waterways Convention
was characterized by much enthusi-
asm. 1t was nightfall when the last
Of the Governors had been heard, and
the convention hall was emptied of
the hundreds Of delegates.
Owing to the fact that much OF the
morning program had to be moved
forward on account Of several hours
delay in the opening Of the conven-
ton, the address OF Clifford Pinch OF.
Chief Forester of the United States,
was postponed until Monday.
At Mondays session Secretary of
War Dickinson and many members of
the large Congressional delegation in
attendance made brief addresses.
At a smoker given the waterways
delegates, Speaker Cannon presided.
The President declared that no
progress had been made in river nav
igation in this country in the last
forty or forty-five years. The water
ways of this country, Mr.. Taft de-
clared, must be used eventually to
carry the bulk of heavy merchan-
disc.
The Presidents declaration that he
favored the issuance of bonds for car
rying out the Ohio River improve
ment as one Of the approved projects
Of inland waterways called out a
burst Of applause. The Ohio River
Improvement will cost $6.000,000.
Mr.. Taft said he also favored bonds
for all other improvements. includ-
ing the Mississippi. just as soon as a
feasible project can be decided upon
and can be shown to be necessary
and tustiflable. The Ohio River gives
the bulk Of business to the Mississip-
pi, the President declared, and every
important tributary tends to increase
the value Of the great highway to the
gulf.
"It Is now up to your, gentlemen u
he said. "to decide what you want,
what it will cost, how long 1t will
take and what the results will be,
Once that Is done. you can command
not ask.
He paid a compliment to the wo'
men of New Orleans and predicted
that II the delegates to the conven'
tion remained here two or three days
they would forget that there was
| such thing as river.
President Taft thoroughly enjoyed
his four and a half nights and 1--WE
days on the Mississippi River. And
although he has learned much Of the
difficulty that must be encountered In
attempting to control that powerful
waterways. he seemed to-day to be
Just as enthusiastic as es4rIn the be
lief that the Mississippi can be made
to recognize a channel deep enough
to handle all Of the commerce tha
can be assigned to 1t.