The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-02
PEOPLE GO AFTER
 I DEEPER RIVER The Time Is Really Passed for
 Oratory TAKE TAFT Al HIS WORD Great Convention at New Orleans Will Send Five Hundred Lobbyists to Washington to Secure Deep
 Channel in the Mississippi
TAKE TAFT Al HIS WORD

l New Orleans, November 1.-Adophng l President Tafts suggestion that the time l for oratory was past, the lakes-to-the l gulf deep waterways convention, to the accomplishment of cheers late this even 1 ing, decided to send 500 lobbyists to l Washington to determine that Congress 1 deepen the Mississippi river.
 l The action of the convention followed a day of oratory. But when the climax came it came quickly and all doubt ss | to the temper of the delegates was dis l pelled.
 1 Charles Scott of Mississippi. chairman 1 of the committee on resolutions, had just completed the reading of his report and l perfunctory applause was dying away l when former Gov. David Francis of Mis- l souri secured recognition from the chair In voice tense with suppressed feel l ing, the former executive and cabinet of l ficer declared:
 Tn one thing, at least, I agree with l President Taft and that is the time for l speeches has passed.
 '"The way to dig this canal is to dig 1 it. And the people who must dig 1t are l the federal officials. The Mississippi river | is under the control of the federal gov | ernment. We of the states cannot im- l prove it if we would.
 Tired of Excuses.
 T want to say to you that I am sick 1 and tired of delays and excuses. On the l trip down the river I listened to ques- 1 tions innumerable as to the feasibility and ] practicability of the 14-foot plan. The | plan has been declared practical and 1 feasible by a board composed largely of 1 army engineers. All we need is the | money The federal government must provide that and the federal government l will, if we make them.
 Therefore, sir, I move the adoption Sf l the following resolution:
 1 Resolved, that the president of the Lakes to- the-Gulf Deep Waterway asso- citation be requested to appoint 500 dele gates from our organization to visit I Washington and to present to the proper committees of Congress and to the heads of our government the resolutions adopt ed by this convention, and at the same time to act as delegates to the Rivers and Harbors congress to be held in that |
 Resolution Adopted.
 There was silence for moment in the big hall where the dusk of nightfall was put lightly dispelled by the illumination. But it was only for a moment. Then some one turned loose an old-fashioned reDel yell and the resolution was adopted with a whoop. In the confusion of the @J1 of all those present knew tfat the regu- lar report of the resolution committee had been adopted.
 President Scott prefaced the reading of the resolutions with a rather lengthy speech which reviewed the work of the association during the three years of it's l existence. The resolutions themselves were lengthy. They declared the constitutional rights of the people for a government by the people, and insisted that the fed eral government should and shall with- out needless delay enter upon definite policy and plan of waterway development, beginning with the improvement of tg Mississippi and Illinois rivers as the main trunk ef a great waterways system in such a manner as to open effective nayi- gation between the Gulf of Mexico and the great lakes; such main trunk line 10 De deVelOpeQ without uiSpdldBeHlent OI and constant reference to the concurrent development of the tributaries, lakes bays, bayous and sounds of all sections of the country and the canals and con- meeting passages required in and for a comprehensive system of inland naviga- tion adapted to our great and rapidly growing commercial needs.
 Evening of Pleasure.
 Following their adjournment, shortly be- fore O clock tonight, the delegates to the convention oevoted the rest of the evening to pleasure. gala performance of LslJuive at the old French Opera house, in Bourbon street, was made com plimentary to the delegates and the ladies who made up their parties.
 The ranks of those attending tho con- ventioE were very much thinned during the day. many of the governors and oth- CT distinguished guests also leaving for home Tonight still finds in the city, howe-~r. several thousand visitors who were tertained by the convention. To- mori is the last day on the pro- gramme.