The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-11-12

whole country. 1t would be good
business proposition to issue bonds
to complete comprehensive system
OF internal waterways. This would
be the most businesslike way OF hand
ling the question, the most economi
cal, and the way that would bring the
quickest returns. Railroads do moi
hesitate to bond, when, by doing so
/ they can build railroad that will be
a money maker, nor should the gov.
lernment delay on the deep waterway
question, question that means sc
much for the people generally of the
United States. BY doing work b,
piecemeal, much of the work is was.
ted by the time the next appropriation
is made, just as much of the value OF
a house would be lost If it were built
part this year and part next year
Speaker Cannon, In a recent speech,
is quoted as saying that it will be
time enough to complete the Panama
canal when this country has popu-
lation Of 100000. 900 people. / have
no patience with this policy, applied
either to the canal or to our internal
waterways.
am In favor OF the early com
pletion OF the canal, in connection
with the systematic development Of
the internal waterways, as a business
proposition for the northwest. Let
me illustrate. Last year we shipped
| to Europe from Portland, Seattle and
other northwest coast points more
than 30,000,000 bushels OF wheat.
This grain was shipped distance Of
10000 miles further than It would
have been shipped had we had the
Panama canal More than this, the
ships in returning travelled another
10000 miles further in making the
round trip more than they would need
to have gone had the canal been com
pleted. Do you see why / attach so
much Importance to speedy compile
tion of the Panama canal? Imagine
the effect on rates for the northwest.
We could take other Illustrations.
and 1t would be the same. stand
for policy that means the earliest
completion of the Panama canal, and
the immediate development Of COM
prehensive system of waterways with
in our country, and ! assure you that
these two things will mean much for
the reduction of freight rates, especi-
ally in the northwest.
Under separate cover / am sending
you a copy each of speeches have
made in congress on the railroad rate
question, government ownership of
railroads, the tariff, waterways, and
numerous other subjects in which Won
may be interested.
There are, other questions in which
Idaho is deeply interested, such as
an income tax and the proposition adj
vanced by Senator Borah of issuing
bonds for the completion of reclama-
ton projects, and | am in hearty ac-
cord with them.
With regard to Mr. Cannon,
should probably add that when I was
first elected to congress there we.p
several candidates for speaker. There
were Cannon, Payne, Sherman (now
vice-preisdent) Littlefield, and posi-
bly, others. | was stranger person
ally to all of them, and neither of
them had ever been speaker and there
was no pronounced sentiment against
either. My own inclination was to-
ward Littlefield. | did not approve
OF Littlefield at all times, but / did
admire his independence and courage.
Before congress convened all the can
didates had abandoned the contest ex-
cept Mr.. Cannon, and it was conceded
that he would be elected speaker.
Following that election there was no
contest upon the speakership until the
last election. Mr.. Cannon should have
been defeated then, and will be de-
feated in all probability in the next
congress. At any rate his election has
become national issue and the peo-
pie will want to know definitely what
any possible member of congress pro-
poses to do on the question.
beg to thank you for your letter
OF inquiry, and while do not know
whether or not you will approve of
my position, a letter as frank as the
one you wrote demands an equally
open one from me.
have written you much more than
! intended, but your earnestness in
these questions seemed to demand it.
With kind regards,
Very truly yours,
BURTON l.. FRENCH.