The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-24
Our Wheat Farther From New
York Than s. American.
Governor Miller of N. Y. State,
Waterway Project Is Bad.
COULDN'T BE MILLER
He's Convinced That Scheme Is
All Right, if Possible.
Allen Argues That All Glasses
of Steamers Could Pass.
Cpr the AssoeIated PressO

Chicago, May Ex-Governor Henry
]. Allen of Kansas and Governor
Nathan L. Miller of New York met
at the banquet table of the Illinois
Manufacturers association last night
in the third of their now famous de-
bates on the issues between the mid
die west and the Atlantic seaboard
over the proposed st. Lawrence water
way.
While Governor Allen advanced the
| cause of the project to carry ocean
traffic directly to the markets on the
shores of the Great Lakes. Governor
Miller puffed constantly at a cigar
and made frequent notes for his reply
to the Kansas governor.
I'll see you again. said the gov
ernor of Kansas to the governor of
New York as he took his seat at the
end of forty-five minutes.
Allen Spoke As Minutes.
New York has no objections to the
contamination of the mid-west's
dream, Governor Miller said as he be-
gan his argument.
THE state which led the crusa de
for prohibition is now clamoring for
water" he said. and all the water in
the Atlantic will not quench its thirst"
The middle west, he said. feels the
call of the ocean much as some feel
the call of the wild, but the call APP
peals more to desire than to reason.
IF there is any reason to hope that
the Atlantic ocean can be brought l.
200 miles inland, then New York is
not so selfish as to impose any objec-
tions to the contamination of that
hope" he declared.
Raps Mid-West's Plan.
Governor Allen proposed to COM
plete the project and investigate after
wards, Governor Miller said. while he
proposed to do the investigating first.
The first thing to consider he said,
Tn 7nf he fH1iar
was feasible.
This whole case has been brought
on abnormal conditions, incident to the
war" he said, and quoted sea captains
as saying that ocean traffic on the
lakes would not be successful until
new types of vessels were devised to
navigate the lakes and the ocean seven
months of the year and the ocean
alone the remaining five months.
Only Tramp Steamers.
THE proponents of this scheme
convict themselves he continued, and
quoted experts and the commission as
saying that the only ocean going YES
sells which would navigate the water
way would be average sized tramp
steamers.
Il don't want TO send Governor Al
len a tramp" he said. you could /
never convert Chicago into a seaport
by making it possible for an occasional
tramp schooner to visit here.
What commodities would an occa-
sional tramp vessel bring back from
Liverpool?
This subject must be studied fur
Their by men who know about the sub |
Jest and who are impartial
Allen in Rebuttal.
Governor Miller spoke one hour In |
accordance with his agreement with |
Governor Allen. The Kansas governor |
was allowed fifteen minutes for re-
buttal.
ssC.ovarnor Miller sa,,~ No ,,,,s+ MT
interfere with the railroads. Governor |
Allen said. THE middle west never /
wanted to do this. The railroads have |
been. our salvation. Governor Miller |
and I agree on this proposition. We |
only tell it differently.
He says we couldn't bring the Maui
retania to Chicago. We don't want
to emphasize the tremendous tonnage
of tramp steamers on the Atlantic.
Plenty of Traffic Waiting.
'And they'd all sail the Great
Lakes" Governor Allen said.
Governor Miller wants to know
what they'd bring back from foreign
parts. Well, what does he think the
forty-three million persons out here
are going to live on? Statistics show
that $3.50, 100000 worth of imports
came to Chicago last year.
1T is as ridiculous to assume that |
ocean vessels would return to New
York empty as to believe they would |
return to lake ports without cargoes."
Governor Allen in presenting his ar
gument quoted his opponent as say
ing that Governor Miller had left un-
read a stack of evidence more than
seven feet high. Describing the deep
waterway project as national in the
highest sense" the Kansas governor
that New YORK opposition
was inspired by provincial self-inter-
est and that Governor Miller was u.s.
ing mot the method of the just judge,
but of the trained lawyer
The project, Governor Allen assert
ed. would mean to wheat growers of
states an added profit underi
all conditions of 29O million dollars a
year.
Wheat in Kansas and Nebraska is
farther from New York market than |
wheat on the Argentine farm. Wheat
at the foot of Lake Erie is as near to
northern Europe as it will be when il
gets to New York. When the lakes
are open to ocean going commerce.
and the lost motion is eliminated. the
saving in freight will add from 5 to Z
cents on the market value of every
oushel of wheat produced in the
fields"