Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-08-16
.SEAWAY SCORED
AS GREAT DANGER.
TO U.S. SAFETY
LEADER BELIEVES ST
LAWRENCE PROJECT ROUTE
INTO NATION

AS an aid to national defense AZ
the present time, the st. Lawrence sea
way and power project has no merit
d. B. Robertson, president Brotherhoo5
OF Locomotive Firemen and F.nofna-
men, points out In an article In fine
issue OF the brotherhood magazine.
Mr. Robertson asserts that the prof.
ecu would actually make the country
moFe Vulnerable, and testimony Of mil
nary experts indicates that one Of the
oest ways for foreign power to in
Vade this country would be down the
valley OF the st. Lawrence, thus split
Ting the country in two. In effect.
the proposed st. Lawrence waterway
would make an invasion easier by pro-
viding ready-made route, he con
tends.
Besides possible military invasion
the seaway part of the project would
open up a continuous route for a "a
nour-a-day invasion, year after year
10 the very heart Of the great indus
trial and agricultural region of the
United States" says Mr.. Robertson.
A Threat TO Job Security
He stresses the fact that at would |
De a, continuous invasion Of our high
american standards of living by cheap
foreign labor products made under |
conditions of production which are en-
trely foreign and distaSteful to the
American way. 1t would be an inva-
sion OF our industrial plants, our. as
sembly lines, and our retail organiza-
lions. 1t would be an invasion of the
job security and American price struc-
ture OF our country, for which every
citizen looks to the government for
protection and maintenance of these
two high standard American products
It would be an invasion Of our very
Jobs and mode of life. It would be an
invasion of the rights of our children
to obtain a high American standard
Of education and a future Of unlimited
American opportunity.
Worse. we American taxpayers
would be paying a part of this inva-
sion cost by substituting the route for
It. The power project, with it's di-
version Of great amounts to industry :
outside of our borders, would even as /
list in the production of goods to be
brought into this country in the in
'asion Of competition"
Defense Angle
Mr.. Robertson asks, why should we
appropriate and spend our money and
livert our energy to bring about this
-igantic invasion? Every transporta-
ion worker should realize the threats
o his future in this project" he tells II
abor not to be fooled by the national II
efense angle, as sit is Just another
1t Of financial propaganda tackled ON ii
D this economic blunderbuss," adding: II
To-day the rails Of America provide III
he outstanding transportation service
the world. They are adequate now
nd potentially 90 in the future"
He also warns against the diverttng
reams of merchant vessels from Eu-
,pe and the Orient dropping anchor
the heart OF this continent.
what else win be dropped into the
cart Of this continent with the drop
ng OF foreign anchors2 VIII those
lchors also drag down our American ii
andard of Hving7" he queries.
Mr.. Robertson concludes his article II
issuing q duty call TO al American II
Dor. and particularly railway work
S, to protest against the project. he
ntinues:
TT Is not only q dire threat against
cir standards OF living and even their
elihood, It Is an invasion Of the Am
can way. This unnecessary and stu
ndous expense win not provide the
pected power benefits as an aid to
tional defense. It's transportation
,illties VIII only make the position
all Of us more precarious." III.
----------~s4 =