The Washington times., 1910-12-08
Wild Enthusiasm Among
Rivers and HarborS Dele
gates At Morning Session.
HARMONY KEYNOTE
OF HARMON'S SPEECH
Paper Read By Gen. Bixby-Many
Prominent Speakers
Heard.

PandemoaiUm. in all the term ir-
plies, held within its sway more than
300 persons this morning on two oc-
casiOns, when Governor Harmon. Of
Ohio. and Champ Clark. minority leader
Of the House, were introduced before
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
grsss IN session at the New Willard
The scenes would have more become
a political convention than a gathering
10 discuss economic questions Net
content with applauding in the usual
manner. the delegates Cheered vOCifer-
OUsly. waved their hats, cans, and pro
grams, and. in some instances, disman-
tied the banners Indicating the State
sections, thus adding 20 the varity Of
objects which filed the air during the
demonstration.
The OvatiOns, which were the great
est ever extended any speakers before
in the history OF the congress, wre in
each instance. pTeCipitated by the in
troductory remarks q President Joseph
E Ransdell-
Introductions-
In presenting Governor Harmon
President RansdelI referred 70 him as
a great son Of a mother OF Presidents.
Later. while introducing Mr.. Clark,
he said that the minority leader had
been a great friend Of the waterways
movement, and indications were that he
would before long be in a position to
be even more OF a friend
These references 10 the Presidntial
pOssibilitis Of Governor Harmon, In 1872,
and the likelihood OF Nj Clark succeed
ing Joseph Cannon as Speaker OF the
House, brought the delegates 10 their
feet each time. and Il was several
minutes before the speakers could pro-
ceed-
The usual ovaJions. however, did not
constitute the only feature Of this
mornings session
For the first tiEae in the history of the
Cniteil States, and the NOV eTnenT IN De
half OF waterways Development, dele
gates 10 a waterways convention were
This morning addressed bv the C1ief Of
:he TrniteG States Engineer Corps
Bixby's Paper.
Brig Gen. William Il Bixby. present
chief Of the corps, read q paper, in
which he indorsed the policy Of the
Rivers and HarbOrs Congress, and ad-
vocaJed Il number CT reforms He was
also enthusiastically welcomed and ap-
plauded frequently during the course Of
Two keDnotes IN the waterways i'm
prOvement movement were outlined by
Governor Harmon and Representative
Clark. and each appeared 10 strike
responsive chord
Governor Harmon declared that in
his opinion, there Is but one danger
confronting the development Of the
movement which IS disSensiOn abong
the advocates Of II as 10 which sections
Of the country shall be improved first
M Clark gave a his belief that q ma
jOrity Of the members Of the House OF
representatives are already in favor
OF q systematic plan Of waterways de
veIopment and VIII appropriate money
for il. and that the Rivers and Har-
-HrN Z
missionary efforts toward the Senate
and the President.
The reference by Governor Harmon
TO the need OF harmony within the
ranks Of the Congress IS believed to
have been the result Of rumOred dissen-
sion on the part Of the officials Of the
Atlantic Deep Waterways Association
Committee Meetings.
A meeting of the ways and means
committee Of this association, held last
night. followed by an announcement
that representatives Of that body would
meet again this afternoon and the cir
cuIation Of a report 20 the effect that
the association felt sighted because it
was not represented in the list Of speak
ers before the Congress, has given rise
to no little apprehension that a SeriCus
controversy may develop
II is generally believed that Governor
Harmon, IN MS speech this morning
attempted to point out the folly that
would resGit from break IN the ranks,
and, If possible. prevent the threatened
rupture
Because they are not represented in
the speakers program. II IS under
stood TO have been charged by repre-
sentatfves of the Atlantic Deeper
Wterways. Association that the con
gress is being run largely in the in
terest Of Lakes-to-the-Gulf projects.
and other improvements which would
benefit only the middle West
Timely Speech
Governor He5mOn's speech Is re-
garded as having been the most time
" of any yet made, and, as a result.
the opinion Is expressed in many
Qffuarters that II win have the effect
of preventing any break in the har-
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