The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-17
THE WATERWAY

President Roosevelt by MS Nlgor-
Gus advocacy of the deeper st.
Lawrence project, is menacing the
livelihood Of thousands of railroad
workers who have backed him al
most unanimously, says Floyd +.
Drake. executive secretary OF the
Railroad Cooperative League OF
Michigan.
DraKe's league, heading the fight
in Michigan against the deepening
project, contends that while the
President may be doing 1t unwit-
tingly, he is in effect being insin-
cere with a group that has been
among his staunchest supporters
because railroad workers will be its
first victims.
The trainmen oppose the project
on the ground that It has no de-
tense value. that there is no i'm
perative necessity for it, that we
need every dime, every technician,
every worker, every bit OF our pro-
ductive capacities TO put over our
defense program, that we should
not divert any OF these to a need
less project, and that Canada, indif-
ferent TO the seaway. would prefer
not to bother with it but is acced-
ing to the Presidents wishes
through appreciation OF what the
U. s. is doing for England.
The project is being advocated at
a time. when hystsria is causing
most persons to lose their proper
perspective and subscribe TO any
thing advanced as an aid TO nation
al defense, Drake declares, and he
contends that the seaway. II as
feasible as pictured, would destroy
the Jobs OF many thousands OF rail
workers by diverting from the rail
roads vast quantities OF traffic that
would be lured that way by tolls
free operation.
The trainmen may be right in
maintaining that the seaway is not
needed. On that basis, II II is sus-'
, tanned by an accurate study Of
facts, the project should be de-
feated.
On the other hand, IL fair study
of facts reveals a need for the wa
terway, a need that will benefit the
nation as a whole, the argument of
the trainmen that 1t will injure the
railroads Ia not q good reason for
objection. AS a matter Of fact II is
not proven that the waterway would
greatly injure the railroads. Under
proper development It might even
help some OF them.
Projects Of this kind should be
based solely upon the benefit TO the
greatest humber. The greatest i'm
mediate argument seems to be for
military aid. Engineers say that five
years will be required for the work.
II that is true. the aid argument
seems rather weak.
Or are we to be in war five years
from now? II we are. the outlook
Is gloomy. Five years OF war at any
thing like our present rate OF eX.
pense will find US so far In debt
that such projects as the waterway
will be Of minor importance as com
pared with the everyday problems
of life that will be presented.
The trainmen should find argu.
ments better than mere selfish gain
for opposing this project. and the
President should have good reasons
other than aid to England for pro
noting II.
II We in Michigan are 10 consider
selfish interests we will favor IT,,
because it should facilitate indus.
trial shipping for this area But we
should not advocate It on that basis
any more than the trainmen or any
other group should oppose II for
selfish reasons. II should be accept.
ed or rejected purely on a business
and economic basis. Other reasons,
excepting perhaps, some usefulness
II might have in a program for
actual defense, seem inadequate.
We hope that need is too remote
10 warrant consideration row