The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-26
PEOPLES FORUM


In your issue of March appears an
article headed, Scheme to Spend
Peoples Money in Foreign Country"
May I call your attention to the fact
that a great many people do not agree
with the gentleman.
This is not a new scheme, by the
way In 1895 there was a strong move
ment under way for the improvement
OF the st. Lawrence to admit ocean
going commerce to the Great Lakes
and while that died down, the middle
west has never quite forgotten It's need
of a shorter way to the sea.
! When this again came before public
attention in 1919, Franklin X. Lane
| declared emphatically for it. and so
| did Secretary Daniels and so did Sec
rotary Redfield, three members Of the
| Wilson cabinet.
! 1t was referred to the International
Joint Commission, an impartial body,
three from the United States, Of whom
one is from Maine, one from Arizona,
one from Wyoming. The engineering
questions We're referred to two engi-
J neers, one named by the government
OF Canada, the other by the United
| States, q member OF the L. S. engineer
corps. The report of the engineers was
made public months ago. None has yet
pointed out nay flaw in that report
which says that the project is wholly
| feasible. The report Of the Interna-
| tionaI Joint Commission was made in
| December None has yet shown any
error in their findings. They consid-
cred every objection that was urged,
they weighed every consideration that
was presented, and they find no merit
in these difficulties and drawbacks.
That report was presented to the
government and to congress. President
Harding accepts it. l enclose what he
said about this project. The members
of the International Joint Commission.
as it happens, were all named by his
predecessor. The report so prepared,
so presented, and so accepted, is en-
titled at least to fair consideration.
Who is back of this? Eighteen states,
sir, which have committed themselves
to it by resolution Of their legislatures
or declaration of their governors or
both Who else? The American Farm
Bureau Federation, which has endorsed
it, the National Farmers union, which
has endorsed it. the National Live
STOCK Growers dSSOCldIIOIs "nlCh mas
endorsed it. a great multitude of
chambers of commerce and boards OF
trade throughout the middle west.
Behind IL stands also the Mississippi
valley association, comprising these
states and others. declaring that the
people who will be served by this way
TO the sea are entitled to the fullness
of their economic right.
And who opposes It? And what are
their reasons for opposing? I will
quote you but one. The legislature or
the state of New York in 1920 adopted
a resolution declaring that the St.
Lawrence route would be detrimental
to the interest OF the New York Barge
canal, the commerce OF New York
state. and Americas trade supremacy.
It would divert the commerce Of the
Great Lakes from its natural course.
cause great confusion 10 established
business and result IN irrepsrsble in
jury to the state Of New York, its.
ports and business interests.
That isn't true, OF course, but neither
are all the other things they say about
It, Take the very first paragraph Of
the letter you publish after your cor
respondent gets through with introduce
tory remarks. talking about the diff
culties OF navigation below Montreal
Those difficulties have not prevented
Montreal from becoming the second