Evening star., 1954-01-15
Butler Of Maryland
To Launch Attack on
Proposed SeawaY
BY the Associofed Press

rockbed opponent prepared to
speak lat great length" today as
the Senate scheduled its third
round of debate on the project.
Senator Butler, Republican, Of
Maryland prepared his full l-dress
speech of opposition with Sena-
tors Aiken. Republican, of
Vermont and Thye, Republican.
OF Minnesota indicating they
thought a filibuster might be
. brewing among those who oppose
the seaway. Senator Aiken and
Senator Thye favor the measure.
The bill before the Senate
would authorize participation
with Canada in building a 27-
foot deep ST. Lawrence water
way from the Atlantic Ocean to
.the Great Lakes.
Senator Wiley, Republican. Of
Wisconsin. leader Of the pro-
seaway forces. issued a confident
claim of victory.
I'VE are ready" he declared,
Ito vote on this issue at any
time"
Kennedy Backs Project.
Senator Wiley's optimism
and that of other seaway sup
porters-soared yesterday when
Senator Kennedy, Democrat, of
Massachusetts announced he
would vote for the bill. 1t had
been thought that Senator Ken
nedy would oppose it because of
his States traditional position
against the waterway.
A change in any position on
the bill is thought significant
because the last Seaway bill,
in 1852. was pigeonholed by a
slim. 43-40 vote.
Earlier this session, Senator
johnson. Democrat, of Colo
rado-a 1852 opponent-said he
would now vote in favor of the
proposal. And another oppo-
nent. former Senator Ecton. Re-
publican, of Montana. has been
replaced by Senator Mansfield,
Democrat. Of Montana, who ia
vors the waterway.
In addition, there were un-
confirmed reports today that
Senator Bennett. Republican, of
Utah, who voted against the
bill in 1852. had switched his
position. His Office said: "He
is undecided"
Aiken to Fight Filibuster.
Senator Aiken, telling the SEN
ate yesterday that he would
/ fight any f1libuster. said Sena-
tor Butler had frequently ex-
pressed determination to take
such action. Senator Thye
asked Majority Leader Knowl-
and to hold night sessions if
any filibuster were sighted.
Senator Knowland replied he
saw mo indications" of a fill
buster now. He said he thought
the bill needed wide explora-
ton" but said he hoped for a
vote on the measure next week.
Senator Wiley. through a
spokesman. declared his side now
is definitely ahead" in the bat
tie for votes. He added that if
proponents get an even split
in the known uncommitted votes
well win hands down."
Kennedy Tells of Change.
In announcing his position,
Senator Kennedy told the Sem
ate that over a 20-year span no
Massachusetts, Senator or Rep
resentative had ever voted in
favor of the seaway.
And" he said, such opposi-
ton on the part of many of our
citizens and officials continues to
this day."
He said the bill should not
be defeated for sectional reasons.
His studies had convinced him
that the Seaway would have no
detrimental effect on the econ
omy of Massachusetts, and. in
particular, the port of Boston,
the Senator declared.
Senator Beall. Republican, of
Maryland, who spoke most of
yesterday in opposition to the
project. dismissed the victory
claims of the proponents.
II think it (the bilD will be
killed by a close vote" he said,
adding:
II am not giving up."
Senators Beall and Butler,
speaking for Maryland and the
port of Baltimore, are represen-
tative of the Atlantic and Gulf
Coast port spokesmen who. along
with railroad and coal groups,
oppose the seaway. All say it
would harm their business by
diverting trade.