THE LAKES/TO^GULF CONVENTION 



AT CHICAGO 



THE third annual convention of by a notable report submitted by See- 

 the Lakes-to-Gulf Deep Water- retary Saunders. At eleven-thirty Judge 

 way Association, held in the William H. Taft was introduced and re- 

 Auditorium Theater, Chicago, October ceived a stirring ovation. He delivered 

 7-9. was notable in several respects. In a scholarly and effective address, indi- 

 the first place it is claimed to be the eating the need for waterway improve- 

 largest waterway convention ever as- inent on a comprehensive scale, point- 

 sembled in the United States, the offi- ing out the defects in the methods 

 cial roster comprising some 4,300 hitherto pursued, and explaining the 

 delegates from forty-four states ; and policy of the present and prospective 

 in the second place, it brought together administration regarding the complete 

 for the first time in American history, control and utilization of running 

 the Presidential candidates of the two waters for navigation and all related 

 great political parties to occupy the purposes by methods involving coopera- 

 same forum, and essentially the same tion between the Federal Government 

 platform so far as concerns the para- and states. The address elicited great 

 mount issue now before the American enthusiasm. 



people that of improved transporta- The afternoon was devoted to an in- 



tion through waterway development. It spection of the great sanitary drainage 



was even more notable in that, for the canal connecting Lake Michigan with 



first time in such an assemblage, no the Illinois River, by means of special 



effort was made to solicit the favor of trains and barges provided by the Chi- 



Congressional leaders, or to get any cago Association of Commerce, the 



'public men on record; the position as- host of the convention. Delegates and 



sumed being that of citizens represent- other guests (including ladies) filled 



ing a majority of the people determin- four special trains on the Santa Fe 



ing in convention the lines of policy Railway. 



which the people demand shall be car- No exercises were set for the even- 

 ried out. Conformably with this posi- ing by the association ; but several of 

 tion, the address of the President was the officers and delegates, including 

 one of the broadest and most stalwart the Governors, Senators, and Represen- 

 utterances ever made in a waterway tatives in attendance, were guests at 

 convention; while the resolutions the fourth annual dinner of the Chi- 

 framed by a committee drawn from cago Association of Commerce, in the 

 some thirty states and unanimously Auditorium Hotel, in celebration of tin- 

 adopted by the entire Convention are rebuilding of Chicago since the fire of 

 far and away the most comprehensive. 1871. This function was made espe- 

 constructivc, and vigorous thus far dally notable by the presence at the 

 framed in the waterway interests of same hoard, at cither side of President 

 either the interior or the country at Richard C. Hall, of Judge William II. 

 large. Taft. and Hon. William J. P>ryan. as 



After assembling on the morning of chief speakers. 



October 7. the address of President During the morning session of Octo- 



Kavanaugh (printed in later para- her 8 a most effective paper, emphasiz- 



graphs) was delivered ; it was followed ing the necessity for waterway improve- 



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