The Senator Who Came for the Canal

United States Senator J. H. Gallinger, of New Hampshire, was yesterday the guest of the Chamber of Commerce, and in a graceful speech declared himself a friend not only of the Lake Washington canal but of every Seattle and of every Western enterprise which would help to develop the country. He saw the route of the proposed government canal, and then told the chamber at a special meeting what he thought of the enterprise.

Senator Gallinger, like Senator Cullom, came to the city unexpectedly to the people, but he met many of the leading citizens yesterday and was given a reception at the Rainier Club. At 10:30 o'clock in the morning, accompanied by S. L. Crawford, Eugene Ricksicker, civil engineer having the canal in charge, Col. I. D. McCutcheon, Henry Fuhrman and Charles E. Burnsidje, he went by a Broadway car to the end of the line. The senator was then escorted to a peninsula near the end of the line and to a point where, with one sweep of the eye, one can see the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, Salmon bay and the Sound beyond. Senator Gallinger expressed himself as charmed with the view.

On the way back to the city Senator Gallinger was escorted to Mr. Fuhrman's beautiful residence and burdened with roses. The other members of the party were also supplied. Then the party proceeded to the Rainier Club, where he was given a reception.

At 3 o'clock he was escorted to a hastily called meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, where were the following gentlemen: President E. O. Graves, Vice President Thomas W. Prosch, Secretary Robertson, Capt. O'Toole, A. P. Swineford, of Superior, Wis., ex-governor of Alaska and now special agent of the United States land office; Col. I. D. McCutcheon, Corwin S. Shank, ex-Gov. Lyman K. Knapp of Alaska, S. L. Crawford, William M. Calhoun, ex-State Senator C. G. Austin, H. L. Sizer, G. W. Kinnear, T. O. Hunter, W. E. Boone and Dr. Samuel Ramsey.

Senator Gallinger after meeting those present made a brief speech. After expressing gratification at his reception, he said: "Prior to coming here I knew very little of the Coast except what I had read about and heard from the lips of others. I can also say that I have studied the maps a little. I am gratified and surprised at what I have seen. I have been giving the weather map attention ever since I have been in public life, and I believe, all things considered, you have the best climate of any state or territory on the American continent." After telling a good story about Dakota's climate, he said that as for Washington, he considered that all things were what the people represented them to be, that few men lied, and that the climate was a grand one.

"I want to say," continued Senator Gallinger, "that perhaps I have been a crank on a good many things which have come up in my public life, but I will say that as to the improvements urged in congress for this Western country, I have always voted for them, being guided by your Western representatives. I voted for the canal appropriation, and when the matter comes up before us again you can rest assured you will have my vote. I hope that canal will be built. I want to see the Nicaragua canal built, too. I am in favor of it, have voted for it, but would like to see our own government have sole charge of the marvelous enterprise. Its construction means a boom for the country and for the Pacific coast in particular.

"The location of Seattle, I believe, is unsurpassed. Some day it will rival the leading commercial ports of the world. It will lead many of them. I will do all I can for you in Washington City, and am always ready to vote for your enterprise.

"I deplore the present depression of the country, but it won't last. The eclipse will soon pass away and we will have better times. The labor, currency, tariff and other questions are not too great for the good sense, intelligence and statesmanship of the American people, and they will be solved and solved right, and this great country will move on."

When he had finished, Senator Gallinger was loudly applauded. He left the meeting soon afterward, and was escorted to his hotel by President Graves.