East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-08-26
NATIONS DEFENSE RESTS ON THE
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS, HARBORS

WASHINGTON. Aug. 26.-(Spec-
ial THAT Improvement of the rivers
and harbors of this country is an i'm
portant factor In the national defense
Is conclusion reached by Hon. Jul
ius Kahn, who represents a California
district and is one of the best known
members of the house. Mr.. Kahn is
the ranking minority member of the
committee on military affairs and has
given much attention to the problems
of army organization, but he is also
deeply interested in the Improvement
of navigation, believing. as he does,
that the future greatness of America
depends upon utilizing our natural re-
sources to the best advantage and
making them serve the nation in a
practical way.
Il am in favor of the best system
of river and harbor improvements we
can devise" said Mr. Kahn, speaking
of such improvements in connection
with the national defense "Natur-
ally / am much iterested in an eff
cient army and strong navy" he
continued, "and / realize the necessity
for making use of our rivers and har-
bors not only for commerce but as a
means of defense. We never know
when 1t may be necessary to have
troops afloat. In time of war we
would not dare seend troops to sea
without naval convoy. If that con-
voy should be attacked by superior
numbers any where near our coasts
the troop ships must seek shelter in
the nearest port. With them should
go the convoy, consequently the har-
bors on our coast should be made ac-
cessible to our deep draft battleships
Good harbors will thus become an aid
to the national defense as we'll as a
benefit to commerce.
Mr.. Kahn does not believe there
can be anything sectional in advo-
eating liberal policy for the rivers
and harbors, or the Improvement of
any other national project. for the
reason that all sections must be bene-
fitted by everything that is for the
common good. The Panama canal
is the greatest waterway improvement
ever undertaken in the world" said
the California congressman. "but its
supporters are not confined to the
Pacific coast or the Atlantic coast.
The Mississippi valley, whose ships
we hope to see in the near future
passing through the Golden Gate;
the people of the iron and coal re-
gions contiguous to the Ohio river;
people of the great western prairies
and those within the shadow of the
magnificent Rocky mountains. all
were interested in and helped to
make the Panama canal possible
Some were actuated by the moving
spirit of the human race-the in
crease in worldly acquisitions which
the canal would bring-but above anC
beyond all else that caused the con
struction of the Panama canal wal
the lofty patriotism of peopl,
| proud of their nation and determined
to preserve it for their posterity.
1--WE dredge our rivers; we bull,
our harbors: we improve our naviga
ton for that which makes the pulse
of the world throb in business activ
! ity-for the return in dollars an
cents which surely follow. But W
built the Panama canal and contro
it. primarily. as means of nationa
safety. We build our battleships an
maintain our army (not now in sucl
conditions as l think adequate o
desirable) for the same purpose. w
utilize our advantages for commerce
but a still higher motive is the pre-
servation of the republic.
"It is well known among m
friends" continued Mr.. Kahn, "tha