The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-09-19
Can't Foretell Tonnage

Against this the contention Is made
In defense that no one can foretell
what business may arise to provide
plenty of tonnage for the canal. 1t Is
quite possible. Many railroads doing
large business today, and serving
very real needs. were constructed to
accommodate traffic which has long
since disappeared-would never have
been built II their builders, and the IN
vestors who provided the construction
COSTS had suspected that the traffic
they were built to handle might evap-
crate.
The Immediate pressure for the
canal. of course, Is to provide some use
full work for Idle men-something that
will not be mere boondoggling. On the
theory that this work may be useful
may even prove profitable for reasons
not now realized-the work Is justified
by its defenders. And 1t Is a real job.
The canal will be 1916 miles long. 1t
involves moving almost twice as much
dirt as was involved In digging the
Panama canal-slIdes and all. Though
on account of the difference In terrain,
climate, etc., the expense will not be
anything like as great
incidentally, traffic on the Panama
canal is far greater than anyone st
the time conceived 1t could be- So that
there has been strong pressure eco
pnp1inaI1r utaI1 FRI Ha mo nh
vious reason of national Defense for a
Nicaraguan canal. Engineers, leaving
out OF consideration the question OF
keeping n canal open despite air raids
and sabotage In war, would like to
double the number of locks at Panama,
thus doubling the amount of tonnage
which could move through 1t.
About Politics
1t Is nm old saying In politics that
the man .'out In 'front.' In the race for
the Presidential nomination Of a big
party-sx months before the ccnven-
tion--is bound to be killed off. The
theory Is that all the other candidates
are shooting at him. Also that the
public is highly changenble, and for
gets easily.
There are exceptions to all rules. as
evidenced In this case by the present
incumbent Of the White House. Frank
lin p. Roosevelt, was we'll out In front
for the Democratic nomination for Is
months prior to the 1882 Democratic
convention. He sprang into the lead
when he was reelected governor OF
New York, by tremendous majority
In November, 1880. His boom defied
all traditions by staying there, despite
all sorts of ups and downs, right
through the whole period. To use
racing term, his boom was never head
ed. There was never day from No
vember. 1880, until his nomination In
June. 1882, when fair betting odds
would not have favored him against
any other candidate. Or for that mat
ter, against any two other candidates.
Politicians OF both parties are won
dering II an exception viii come this
time In the Republican party. AT pres
ent the two leaders. SO far out In front
that 1t seems hardly worth while to
figure who is third and who Is fourth.
are Senator William f. Borah and Col.
Frank Knox. publisher of the Chicago
Daily News.
Almost any politician, familiar with
national politics, Will tell his friends
contldentially that II either OF the two
Is nominated, 1t will be Knox. This
theory Is also based on old flxatlons
which may easily be proved wrong.
Stripped down to Its essentials. the
theory on which these politicians ellml-
nate Borah Is two-fold. First, that he
Is too old. Second. that the regulars
have never wanted Bnrah, and hence
would not want him now.