The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-02
TAFT'S SUGGESTION THAT TIME
FOR SPEECH MAKING
HAS PASSED
ADOPTED.
DAVID R. FRANCIS
OFFERS RESOLUTION
And it Was Adopted With Whoop--
Cannon Sends Encouraging Let
ter---Ransdell Favors Levees
And Says Public Should
Own Landings.

New Orleans, Nov. 1.-The adop-
ton of Taft's suggestion that the time
for oratory is past the waterways con-
vention, to the accompaniment of
cheers, this evening decided to send
five hundred lobbyists to Washington
TO demand that congress deepen the
Mississippi river. The action fol-
lowed day of oratory, but all doubt
of the temper of the delegates was
dispelled when the climax came.
Charles Scott, of Mississippi, chair
man of the committee on resolutions,
had just completed reading his report
and the perfunctory applause was dy-
ing away when former governor Da-
vid r. Francis. of Missouri, secured
recognition, and declared:
I'm one thing at least, | agree with
Mr. President that is that the time
for speeches has passed. The way to
dig this channel is to dig it. The
people who must dig it are the feder-
al officers. The Mississippi river IS
under the control of the federal gov
eminent We Of the states cannot i'm
prove it if we would. | am sick of the
delays and excuses. Coming down
the river, | listened to questions in
Vulnerable as to the feasibility and
practicablity of the fourteen foot
plan The plan has been declared
practicable and feasible by a board
composed largely OF army engineers
All we need Is money The federal
government must have to provide that
and will II we make them. Therefore
sir move we adopt the following
resolution:
Resolved That the president Of
the Lakes-to-the-Gulf Deep sWater-
ways association, be requested TO
appoint 500 delegates to visit Wash
ington and present to the proper com
mittee of congress and to the heads
of our government, resolutions adopt
ed at this convention and at the same
time act as delegates to the Rivers
anu 11dI DOl = AOneoi NSo w ~ hSiN III
Washington, Dec. 8, 8 and TO-
There was silence for a moment
in the big hall, where the twilight was
but lightly dispelled by the illumina-
ton. Then some one gave the rebel
yell, and the resolution was adopted
with a whoop. The regular report of
the resolutions committee was also
adopted. These insisted. 1--WE should
and without needless delay enter up
on a definite policy of waterway de-
yelopment, beginning with the inn
provement of the Mississippi and Hi
nois rivers as the main trunk of the
great waterways system, in such a
way as to open effective navigation
between the Gulf of Mexico and the
Great Lakes. the trunk line to be de-
veloped with no disparagement of and
constant reference to the concurrent
development of the tributaries. ca
nails and connecting passages required
for a comprehensive navigation adapt
ed to the rapidly growing commercial
needs"
The resolutions recited as one Of
the reasons for the demands, that the
Mississippi valley contains more than
one-half the population of the United
States. The arguments of the oppon-
ents we're condemned. Bonds OF small
denominations were urged and de
velopment of waterways as an in
yestment rather than succession OF
piece meal experiments" is de
manded
Above all it was insisted that a
minimum depth Of fourteen feet at
low water was one of the cardinal
principles of the association.
The convention adjourned for the
day in whirlwind of enthusiasm