The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-10-27

Opinion in Michigan was divided
on the question OF the st. Lawrence
seaway. Large sectors of the state
were enthusiastically favorable, be-
llioving that the seaway offers
Michigan. more than any other
state, tremendous new Industrial
and agricultural opportunities. On
:, the other hand, there were los, 900
i Michigan petitioners against the
treaty when it came TO issue last
spring in the senate. This OPPOSE
ton largely believed that the sea-
way would be an unwarranted in
vasion of the railroad transporta-
tion field.
Senator Vandenberg took the for
liner view. He was I'm the forefront
OF the debates. sustaining the
urgent viewpoint of President
Roosevelt against the implacable
Democratic opposition W h h
fought the treaty. But he was abso-
lutcly fair the 1903, 900 descending
constituents and presented their
gigantic petition on the floor of the
senate. He declared his own be-
lief that the railroad fears were
unwarranted Cd because il would
take eight years to build the sea-
way, and GU because the interstate
commerce reports that the new
u a I c to be developed
In the next eight years will be Is
times 1.-THE traffic to be carried by
The seaway lie also argued that so
lar as Michigan railroads and rail-
road employees are concerned. the
seaway would inevitably develop
export terminals in the Great
Lakes which would increase the
rail feeder traffic.
II is said that the late Sen. Char.
les +. Townsend of Michigan first
started the seaway project % years
ago. Ii fell to the lot of Senator
Vandenberg TO lead the battle for
II at the finish, in response to
President Roosevelts program In
the seaway's behalf.
Senator Vandenberg Is the chief
advocate Of the seaway which aims
to put Michigan ports on a seaport
basis" said Sen. Copeland OF New
York In an interview in the Battle
Greek Enquirer and News when he
was passing through the state. "He
Is the leader of this great senate
battle since the death OF Sen.
Thomas Walsh of Montana who
was always the seaway's first
friend. My state OF New York Is op-
posed to the seaway and therefore
am in bitter opposition to s,cna-
tor Vandenberg on this proposition
But he Is a real fighter and must
congratulate the state OF Michigan
upon his alertncss and his astute.
ness in this particular battle"
ON final roll call in the senate
the treaty was defeated. II muster.
ed majority But IT could not gel
the required two-thirds.
Linked with the seaway problem
has always been the collateral is
sue involving the levels of thu
Great Lakes: and here, regardless
of the seaway itself, Senator Van
denberg has rendered ycoman ser
vice 10 Michigan and the other lax,
states in his leadership agalns
those interests which constant,
seek TO divert the waters from tn
Great Lakes for their own selfisl
advantage i'm other watersheds
Upon this phase Of the controver
sy Michigan has always been a unit
A preliminary skirmish on TIN
latter score was fought and wo
two years ago when neat an
dangerous coalition between NeN
York and Chicago tried to amenl
river and harbors bill in orde
to relieve New York state OF tn
cost OF running the Erie canal AM
TO get more water diversion from
Lake Michigan at Chicago. II thi
effort had succeeded II would hav'
spelled the doom OF the seaway be
cause the diversion would hav,
ruined its chances and the federali
zation OF the Erie canal would hav,
committed the government OF tina
ALTERNATIVE barge-route to h ,
ocean That was the first grea
battle. The lake states won. 'Th'
victory ELECTED the following lette
ffrom Charles p. Craig. executive
director OF the st. Lawrence-Tide
water ASSOCIATION. to the editor o
the Jackson Citizen-Patriot: