The Bismarck tribune., 1934-03-15

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entitled to the use for republication
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Just the Beginning
Defeat by the senate Of the St.
Lawrence seaway treaty marked the
end Of one fight and the beginning OF
another which yet may be won. The
people of the middle and northwest
will not give up without a struggle
and persistence will win In the end.
We will get the waterway within the
active years of most persons now liv-
ing because 1t is an inevitable and
unacceptable development. The man
a1er in which all but the so-called In
ternational section Of the river has
already been improved, whether by
American or Canadian initiative,
demonstrates the point.
Meanwhile, It Is not amiss to take
q look at the circumstances sur
rounding this initial defeat for tho
treaty to disclose what needs to be
done before it win b approved.
The first thought. based on the his
tory Of the major opposition, Is that
sectionalism still rules congress. Cities
on the northeastern seaboard, which
profited by the Panama Canal, op-
pose this improvement solely on the
ground Of self -inte- est. From Bos-
ton to Norfolk. Va, our eastern sea-
ports have benefited by the connect
ing link between the Atlantic and
Pacific. Much commerce has flowed
through them as q result of it. Much
of this commerce, by the way. used to
pass through Bismarck and other
points on our transcontinental rail-
way systems.
1t can be admitted, therefore. that
construction Of the seaway might
cause some loss OF trade to such
ports as Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore. The same situ-
alton exists in Canada where the So
called maritime provinces opposed
the treaty on the ground that it
would reduce the importance of
Quebec and Montreal as seaports,
permitting vessels which once stopped
there to proceed past them into the
interior.
Opposition of this sort must be ex-
pected and may never be eliminated.
There is a chance, however, Of re-.
moving the most pernicious opposi-
tion which the treaty encountered,
that Of senator's from Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Iowa and other midwestern
states.
This has its root in the hope for a
great system Of interior canals, some
OF them already built: others In pro-
cess Of construction and still others
projected for building.
Their opposition was based on the
theory that the treaty limits the
amount Of water which may be di-
verted from Lake Michigan for either
navigation or sanitation purposes
They fear that this limit will pre-
vent the development Of canals from
Chicago to the Mississippi river tc
accommodate large vessels and there.
by interfere with the growth OF
such cities as Chicago and st. Louis
For this reason Senators Lewis Of n.
ainois and Clark Of Missouri appeared
as leading opponents Of the st. Law.
renee pact.
Senator Dickinson of Iowa. figuring
that river development would be o.
greatest benefit to his state. als<
Joined the opposition.
In the historical background Of tn
sanitation argument turks as PERM
cious = piece Of politics as ever dis
graced America. This Is the Chicag,
sanitary districts failure to do tn
job imposed upon 1t and It's terrifi'
waste of public money through tn
practice Of rotten politics.
Years ago it became evident tina
Chicago would have TO- do something
about its sewage. a sanitary cana
was constructed and all sorts Of filtl
lay inert along its length, disgrace
to the city and the state Of Illinois
It was necessary to reverse the d.
rection il which the Chicago rive
flowed. leading water out Of LAX
Michigan 70 diffuse this refuse an
keep It moving.
At the beginning the amount o
water available for this purpose Va
unrestricted. but = ths lake laval
began to. drop other communitie
protested and the matter went Il
court. The dscision q Tho Units'
States supreme court, limiting Obi
cagoS ne Of water 70 1000 secoul
feet, marked tho end Of that oontro
versy, but II "a not satisfy Chicago
What = could not ct from the 81
preme ooart s hopes % get now b
International agreement with Can
ada. Approval Of this treaty woul'
have blocked that hops Forever.
1he sd port Of It Is that Chicae'