New-York tribune., 1918-03-28
Hudson Tunnel
A War Necessity.
Edge Declares
Tells Broadway Association
Improvement Is Of Inter-
national Importance
Jersey Will Pay Half
Gen. Kenyon Outlines Amer
ica's Responsibilities Over
seas; Sure Of Victory


Hands across the port stretched out
and clasped warmly at the luncheon Of
the Broadway Association in the Hotel
McAlpin yesterday. Nor were the
bonds linking us with Great Britain
and the world overseas neglected.
Brigadier General L. r. Kenyon, of
The British War Mission, dwelt upon
the especial necessity for realizing
Americas overseas responsibilities Just
now, while Governor Edge OF New
Jersey. taking as his theme the pro-
posed vehicular tunnel between this
city and the Jersey. shore, drew the
picture Of what a commercially united
New York and New Jersey would mean.
These are not the days" Governor
Edge told the audience of three hun
dred and fifty bu' ness men, ito waste
time discussing any project that has
not to DO with the great task now be-
fore tins nation or the great future
that lies beyond. But this project of
uniting the Manhattan and New Jer
sey wings OF the port of New York has
very defnitel., to do with both of
Gently said that for purposes of war,
work on such tunnel should be start
ed at once, and you all know, after the
coal and food difficulties of last win
ter, how urgent is the local need for
some such transportation facility.
Ready to Go "Fifty-Fiftv'
"Compared to New York, New Jersey
is a small state. but we stand ready to-
day to meet New York on a 5000 basis
IN this undertaking. Since the Civil
War we have had no state taxes in
New Jersey. but in this emergency we
realize the need for them, and so we
have passed bill authorizing a spe-
cial tax levy. This tunnel. recent care
fu estimates have shown, will cost
only ST. 100000. The minute the New
York Legislature will vote authority
for furnishing New York's share of
the Legislature into session in my
state the tax will go into effect. and
New Jersey will be ready with her
$4,000 600"
Emphasizing the international pos
sjbilities OF such co0rdinating vein
cf transport beneath the Hudson, Gov
ernor Edge declared that Federal aid
for the scheme could almost certainly
be seculed if only the two states would
get together.
"A little while ago" he said, "New
odds over the lighterage problem. But
Thousands of New York's busiest men
are Jerseyites in their home life.
The democracy of the military cam
tonments, with all that it has meant
for the growth Of mutual understands
ing between young men of widely diff
fering ways Of life and points of view.
has given US great object lesson. 1t
is the spirit of those environments that
we must generate tArough our whole
life We are engaged on a huge ma
tional JOB, and the time has come to
eliminate all state lines.
Sinking Party Lines
There are many things about the
present administration of which l dis
Il wish, for one thing, that the censor
ship might be removed. for | believe
the American people can be trusted.
But | am sinking all thought of party
lines in my support OF the govern
ment.'
1t had been planned that Governor
Whitman should present the New York
side of the tunnel question, but at the
last moment a telegram was received
stating that press Of official business
made his attendance impossible. a
resolution, however, introduced by
Louis J. Wiley, was unanimously
adopted by the association, urging
upon the Governor prompt response
TO the New Jersey appeal.
Following Governor Edge, Deputy
Police Commiss oner John A. Harriss,
serving without salary in charge Of
traffic, spoke on local taXicab problems
and the desirability of an overhead
roadway from Fortjeth to Fifty ninth
street. Then General Kenyon came
forward with the call to aims.
Addressing himself particularly to
the business mans outlook. he said:
Its up to you gentlemen right here
to see that the army gets proper back
ing. No army in history ever was sue
cessful without real backing from home.
When you in this country were fight
ing your war for independence the
British army did not have such back
ing The result was we had TO hire
Hessians to fight for us-and you won
your war.
To-day, though. the entire nation is
behind the British army, and to-day
it is doing its full part in France. We
through, and few setbacks don't
matter If you fellows do your share,
as we believe you will when your time
comes, we have no fears as to the final
outcome"
What England Is Doing
General Kenyon took up the charges
of German propagandists that England
has been letting other nations do her
fighting for her.
at is the old German game he said,
"this of trying to stir up mutual dis
trusts and resentmerts am' ng US AL
lies, but-without dwelling on the
work of the British navy, of which you
all know, and withou which the Allied