Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-10
Party of Boosters Get Lit.
tie Encouragement
at Capital.
CALL UPON PRESIDENT
Who IntimateS Ohio Project
May Be Placed Ahead of
the Mississippi.


Congressman Ransdell as president
and ]. F. Ellison of Cincinnati as sec
retary-treasurer, and declaring for a
new department for the treatment of
waterway improvements, regular an
nual appropriations for the speedy COM
pletion of waterway projects now un-
der construction. to be paid out of cur
rent revenues, if possible, and other
wise for the sale of bonds. the rivers
and harbors congress held the closing
session today.
The resolutions adopted appeal to
. congress for an appropriation of
$50,o0O,O00 and $5O.OOO,OOO an
nually for 10 years thereafter for
river and harbor work, express the
belief the rivers and harbors bill
should be placed on an equal footing
with the other great appropriation
bills and condemn the present meth
cd Of making appropriations.
Blow for Illinois Project.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 1O.-Gover-
nor Deneen and his fellow boosters of
the immediate construction of lakes
to-gulf ship waterway are doomed to
disappointment, according to informa-
ton concerning the congressional pol
Icy which has become known.
1t is said to be the intention of the
congressional leaders, with the approx
al of President Taft, TO put through the
Ohio river improvement project at this
session and to postpone action on the
Mississippi proposition.
Ohio Wins the Day.
The Ohio river boosters have won
the day, according to present indica-
tionsl They have the president with
them and also many of the most in
huentiaI members OF congress. The
argument which they have put for
ward successfully is that the federal
government should experiment in wat
erway development by an appropria-
tion for the creation of a nine foot
channel in the Ohio. Then, If the ven
ture is rewarded by an increase IN
commerce, it Is pointed out that the
government may well proceed TO the
development of the Illinois and NIissis-
eippi rivers.
Taft Talk Significant.
From many sources came intima-
tions and direct statements that this
plan for action had been practically
settled upon by the leaders in con-
gress. Not the least significant corro-
boratfon came from President Taft
himself when he counselled the Illinois
men and the rest of the Mississippi
delegation not to sulk if some other
project should receive preferenc in
congress in the Inauguration of a wat
erway policy.
This proved unwelcome news to the
committee of 500 boosters of the lakes
to7gulf project which spent the day
presenting arguments in favor of their
plan and in serving their ultimatum
upon the highest officials of the gov
ernment.
VIII Oppose Epemies.
In a series of audiences the commit
tee, headed by Governor Deneen and
Engineer Lyman E. Cooley of Illinois,
Governor Hadley and Ex-Governor
Francis OF Missouri and Governor San
ders of Louisiana, presented resolu-
tions serving notice that the executive
and legislative officials who fail to
support the lakes-to-gulf project will
be opposed for reelection by the entire
aggregation of waterway advocates.
Everywhere the boosters and their
plain spoken message were received
respectfully but without particular en-
thusiasm for their pet project. From
the president down the government of
dcials studiously confined themselves
TO generalities in their expressions of
approval of waterway development
Following the Ohio delegation Gov
ernor Deneen and more than 800 mem
bers of the lakes to the gulf committee
were ushered before the president In
the east room Of the White House.
Mr.. Deneen in presenting the resolu-
tions called attention to the record of
President Taft in encouraging inter
national commerce, and then he urged |
the chief executive to turn to the en-
couragement of internal national COM
nerce on the country's natural water
ways
President Makes Statement.
'T doubt not" said the president, |
that this constitutes an epoch in the |
history OF the nation-this fixing of at |
tention upon the necessity for action /
in developing water highways. most I
important of which is the lakes to the /
gulf project.
'I may say that I have received as
surances from the members of the |
committees of congress having to do
y