Evening star., 1934-01-15
LAKES PACT RESTS
ON ROOSEVELT AID
Pro.Treaty Forces Depend
on His Renewed interest to
Strengthen Support.
Ay the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
A renewed Rooseveltian interest In
ratification Of the st. Lawrence water
way treaty with Canada was counted
on by Democratic leaders today to
strengthen the pro-treaty forces In the
Senate.
Hours before debate was started fol-
q second day, President Roosevelt can
vassed the prospects for ratification at
White House conference with Demo-
cratic and Republican independent
leaders. Both sides agreed vote was
still far of.
Depend on President.
The leaders reported the immediate
outlook for ratification was not very
promising. Two-thirds Of those voting
are required to ratify. but considerable
doubt was expressed that this many
ballots were in sight.
Whether the Presidents fresh con-
sideration of the subject presaged q
more urgent command for favorable ac-
ton could not be foretold, but treaty
advocates left no doubt they were lean
ing on this and his special message
to help win support from those who
have yet to make up their minds.
Those conferring with the President
last night were Chairman Pittman OF
the Foreign Relations Committee, Sem
ators Harrison, Mississippi, and Byrnes,
South Carolina. Democrats. and Borah,
Idaho. and Norris, Nebraska, Repub-
licans
The White House parley coincided
with statements by the National Grange
and Representative Smell of New YORK.
House minority leader, urging favorable
action on the treaty. -.
Smell predicted the Senate would
listen to the wishes of the President, :"
and asserted opposition, resulting from
coalition of public utility, railroad
and seaboard port interests, Is much
more vocal than real"
Statement of Grange.
The statement signed by the Grange
Executive Committee said:
The National Grange has for years
advocated a ship canal from the Great
Lakes to the sea to open up the heart
of the continent to the benefits OF
ocean navigation. The grange believes
that this provision of cheap transpor-
tation, linking q great economic area
with the markets Of the world, Will
either directly or indirectly benefit not
only those engaged in agriculture, put
also the Nation as whole.
The area directly tributary to the
seaway produces more of the cereal
crops of the Nation than all other
sections of the country combined, and
many other important agricultural in
terests are centered there. Both lead
ing dairy areas are located on the sea-
way.
"90T Of Mileage Available"
1.-THE opportunity to further rural
electritication through public develop
ment of st. Lawrence power, as a part
of the project. is also of vital interest
to many Of our local and State organ
izations.
The fact that at least 80 per cent
of the seaway mileage is already avail
able for navigation by ocean-going
cargo vessels Is a cogent argument for
removing the few remaining barriers
which still bottle up this important
agricultural area.
Every Chief Executive since Presi-
dent Wilson, regardless of party, has
advocated this improvement and con-
tributed to the negotiation of an agree
ment essential to any joint undertaking
effecting two neighboring nations.
President Roosevelt is to be congrat-
ulated upon his decisive action to make
the project a reality as a part OF his
recovery program"