The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-01-28
The QUESTION OF F0RT|FYING
THE PANAMA CANAL DISCUSSED
IN THE HOUSE..
Hobson Was For and keifer Against
t-War of Nations Discussed
Freely.
Copyright, 1911.)

Washington.-The opening gun in
the fight for the forti6cation of the Pa
mama Canal was fired in the house of
representatives Thursday, although the
postoftice bill was ostensibly under
consideration. Representative Keifer
of Ohio spoke for an hour in favor of
the naturalization of the canal. He
was answered by Representative Hob
son of Alabama. General Keifer assert
cd the latest estimate of $13, 3,000,0 900 for
the fortification of the canal would not
be sufficient and that it would cost at
least $500, 100000 to fortify the canal
so that it could be held against an at
tack of the frst-class powers of the
world.
keifer Quotes Treaties.
General Keifer asserted that the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which still is
in effect, specifically provides for the
naturalization of the Isthmian water
way.
For one hundred years." he said,
"the United States has been committed
by treaties to the naturalization of the
canal across the Isthmus. regardless
of the nation that bAilt it.
The importance commercially to the
United States of the continued use of
the canal during time of war, he said,
should not be overlooked. General
Keifer declared that during the con-
sideration of the Hay-Pauncefote trea-
ty in the United States senate all
amendments looking to the striking
out Of the naturalization clause were
voted down.
Robson Quotes History.
Mr.. Hobson took issue with him on
many points. In the question of any
other important matter in the history
of civilized nations" he said, "can the
gentleman cite one case where any ma
ton having vital interest at stake
ever undertook to guard and protect it
through naturalization?
with the building of the Suez Ca
nal the matter of communication be-
tween Europe and Asia was settled.
The communication between Europe
and Asia is not affected by the Pana-
ma Canal, but the Panama Canal will
put every foot of coast line on the
west shores in all the Americas at the
mercy of European powers. It will
put every foot of coast line on the At
lantic and the gulf coast of the Amer
icas at the mercy of any Asiatic power,
which they were not before. What
it connects is the Americas. It puts
the East and West coasts OF the Amer
icas in communication. 1t is essential
ly an American proposition. 1t is a
of the Western Hemis-
phere. Our forefathers with the in
stinct of their day felt that in ques-
tions that are essentially American we
should not be voted down or overcome |
by combinations of European nations. |
That is the foundation of the Monroe
doctrine and if we now invite the great |
powers of Europe to join us in
this purely American affair we shall
simply abrogate the Monroe doctrine.
IF you have War-and this has
been worked out by the war games,
and am not guessing-f you have a
war in which the Panama Canal is not
involved, and in which no enemy could
seize it, a war with an Asiatic power
with our fleet in the Atlantic, then the
war will be on the American shores
INVOLVING an occupation of the Pacific
coast. But if you have the Panama
Canal, through which American ships
l1one can pass and come out onto the
Pacific side, all the war games show
hat the war operations will not take
)lace on the coast of Asia.