The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1911-01-27
Copyright l9ll.)
THE QUESTION OF FORT|FYING
THE PANAMA CANAL DISCUSSED
IN TIE HOUSE.
Hobson Was For and keifer Against
lt-War of Nations Discussed
Freely.


the fight for the fortifcation OF the Pa
mama Canal was fired in the house OF
representatives Thursday, although the
p0st0ftice bill was OStenSibly under
consideration. Representative helter
of Ohio spoke for an hour in favor or
the naturalization of the canal. lie
was answered by Representative Hob
son of Alabama. General Keller assert
cd the latest estimate of $13,000,0 0o~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
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 lsthmus. regardless
of the nation that built 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
Keller 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 or
many points. In the question OF any
other important matter in the history
of civilized nations" he said, can thu
gentleman cite one case where any ma
ton having a vital interest at stake
ever undertook. to guard and protect i
through naturalization?
with the building of the Suez ia
nal the matter of communication be
tween Europe and Asia was settled
The communication between Europ
and Asia is not affected by the Pana
ma Canal. but the Panama Canal vii
put every foot of coast line on tn
west shores in all the Americas at tn
mercy of European powers. 1t wi
put every foot of coast line on the A
lantic and the gulf coast of the Ame1
icas at the mercy of any Asiatic p0We1
which they were not before. VIVA
it connects is the Americas. 1t put
, the East and West coasts Of the Anne
icas in communication. 1t is essastia
ly an American proposition. 1t is
proposition of the Western Heml
phere. Our forefathers with the IL
, stinct of their day felt that in que
, tions that are essentially American "
should not be voted down or overcom
by combinations of European nation
That is the foundation of the Monrc
, doctrine and if We now invite the gre.
military powers of Europe to join us
this purely American affair we sha
simply abrogate the Monroe doctrin
IF you have war-and this hi
been worked out by the war game
;, and | am not guessing-7if you have
:, war in which the Panama Canal is N
:. involved, and in which no enemy cou
- seize it, a war with an Asiatic pow,
with our feet in the Atlantic, then Il
war will be on the American shor
~ involving an occupation of the Paci1
o coast. But If you; have the Panan
~ Canal, through which American shi
"a alone can pass and come out onto t!
= Pacific side, all the war. games she
that the war operations will not tai
place on the coast of. Asia.