Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-12
ROOSEVELT TELLS
OF PANAMA CANAL
DweHs in New Orleans Speech
Upon It's Effect on
Commerce.

NEW ORLEANS, La, March 11.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt was the guest of the city
of New Orleans tonight and the city is
outdoing itself to make him welcome. 1t
Is the coloners first visit to New Orleans
since October %, 1905. He came then as
President Of the United States, defy1ug
the protests of the rest of the country,
for New Orleans was recovering at that
time from an epidemic of yellow fever,
and was shut off from the rest Of the
world by quarantine, which was lifted
when President Roosevelt disregarded it,
Tonight Col. Roosevelt. private citizen,
arrived, and New Orleans is straining
every nerve to show her gratitude for the
previous visit. Though lacking much of
the formality, the greeting to Citizen
Roosevelt was even more cordial than
that to President Roosevelt six years ago.
Met by Crowd at Depot
/ The colonel rode into the city from Jack
son, Miss, on a brilliantly decorated spe-
cial train. He was the guest of the Pro-
gressive Union Of New Orleans, which ar
ranged his reception.
At the depot he was met by an enthusi-
astic crowd. and as the carriage in which
he rode with ]. w. Porch, president of
the Progressive Union, passed through the
decorated streets cheers and cries OF
Good boy, Teddy!' saluted him from all
sides.
Col. Roosevelt spent only five hours in
the city, leaving at II o'clock for Hous-
ton, Tex. He went at once to his hotel
upon his arrival here and then was lIr-
ried to the French Opera House. where
he delivered an address. Immediately
after the meeting he attended q banquet
given in his honor.
On the trip from Jackson to this city
Col Roosevelt was forced to make talks
from the rear platform Of his car at a
number OF places.
Called Most Il1ustrious Citizen.
In introducing Col Roosevelt at the
French Opera House Mr.. Porch referred
to the ex-Presdent as "the most il
lustrious citizen in America If not in
the whole world"
Col. Roosevelt's remarks were large
ly devoted to the Panama canal and
its effect upon the commerce of the
world. To no other port, he said. would
the opening of the canal mean quite
so much as to New Orleans
He took a fling at his enemies and
certain newspapers for their criticism
OF his course as President in the canal
matter.
Various people," he said. "have been
trying to find out something about
Panama canal matters that was not
straight. Some of them ask why 1 did
not put the matter before Congress-. If
had Congress would be debating it
yet, and the opening Of the canal would
have been delayed fifty years. Those
were several reasons why did not
care to put the matter up to Congress.
Preferred to Be Discussed.
II infinitely preferred that instead of
discussing the canal they should discuss
me. And that is what happened. There
appeared numerous newspaper articles
which attempted to show that did not
get the canal in the right way. But 1
got it all right"
The colonel reiterated his well known
views in favor OF the fortification of the
canal.
'"The surest way to invite war; he
said, lis to show that we are unable to
protect ourselves If war should come.
II we fail to fortify the canal we would
be the derision Of the world If another
nation should come along and gain pos
session Of it. II We see that the canal
is properly fortified and maintain proper
navy. I don't believe we win ever have