The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-06-06

Chicago Five hundred dele
gates were present from % states in the vast
basin between the Alleghenies and the Rockies
1,725 square miles, an area about eight times the
size of either France Germany 1t is one of the
garden spots of the world. century ago all Of
it to the west OF the Mississippi was an unex-
plored wilderness. We bought that wilderness
from the French in 1903 for $15OO0,00O. Half
score of states have been carved from that Louis
lana Purchase"
The whole Mississippi valley contains more than
half of our 11OO00,OO0 people
"We have banded to promote the interests OF
this big region" said President Harry Fl. Merrick
in his keynote address. 'and we are determined
nothing shall prevent the accomplishment OF our
purpose. The Mississippi valley wants certain
things. Some of them we shall have to get at
Washington. Our - states control 81 per cent
of the men In congress, and If they don't do what
we want there1l be hell to pay and no pitch hot
The association would teach the valley interests
from Chicago and Minneapolis to New Orleans and
Galveston; from st. Louis TO Kansas City, from
Detroit to Denver and so in and out and all along
the Ine that Mississippi valley means from the Do
minon border to the gulf and from the Aiiegnenles
TO the Rockies and that the easiest way OUT is NOT
over the Rockies to the Pacific nor via the narrow
bottle neck of New York to the Atlantic. but oy
waterways nature intended for mans USE
Value Of National Parks.
ssWe are putting American citizenship above tne
dollarw said Honorary President John a. Parker
of New Orleans in the opening address. we
are considering conditions brought about Dy the
war. These changed conditions open new cnap-
fer in the history OF our valley empire
THE .changed conditions Of which Mr.. Parker
snole include the recognition OF the national parks
OF the United States not only as one q the great
economic assets Of the nation. but also as puohc
Fairgrounds necessary to the mental moral ana
physical welfare Of the people The United STATES
AAxa4 standard
Tbey contain some Of the most magnificent scenery
n the world. The system II to be still farther en-
larged by creating several new PARKS
Tbo aymv ,f national park enthusiasts VIII cry
xvith one accord awould that the mississippi val
lev association could establish the mississippi va
tfonai park as easily as Il can its S zoVVvOo
banki - mt this Is one Of the things the associa-
-, ,v,,l shave to ret at Washington since IT can
q astahl,shed only by an act of congress. And
cSr.rsss has no fixed policy regarding the estaD-
lisbent of nntional parks II Is plafitude 70 say
ts,at no,it,cs should be eliminated from the esfaD-
llshrncnt Of these public playgrounds. sNevefthe-
,ass some Of the 1ercest political contests IN CON-
80 80 cement over their creation. BY way Of
,,,,e II ynay lie stated that II took six years OF
,asstspt effort 10 pass In 1915 the act creating
p-,ss,v Mountain national park, the most popular
81 al the scenic national PARIS. ana zen years %
,ass n 1919 the Grand Canyon NATIONAL PARK act.
In eoch case unofficial leaders o. the nauonal
mark movement say. the mnuenuai oppos'saua 80 49,
sn actIve hostility of the forest service the Du~
s-s., "a the depart1nent Of agriculture which mas
$3.50 ~ the national forests. The reason for this
1870 hostitv IL claim Both these national parks
ars taken from national forests and automaticai-
!, r,,ne nndar control Of the national park serv-
To- bureau Of the department OF the interior.
The creation Of these two national PARIS .hus W.
ava! 90 scoyrespondingly weakened Its political