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April, 1909 respect, TDhere~ was -no= pride to. be derived from the fact that the battle- ship was accompanied around the world by foreign colliers, any one or all of which could have been with- drawn iat any time by their respective governments. While he did not be- lieve that. war with Japan would ever occur, he nevertheless thought the best safeguard for continued peace was pre- paredness. Regarding the extension of coastwise laws to embrace the Philippine Islands Mr. Eugene Tyler Chamberlain, com- missioner of navigation, who was present, did not think legislation to this: end possible at present. Secretary John A. Penton read a newspaper clipping to the effect that. Congressman Pollard was in danger of suffering a rebuke from the legisla- ture of his own state for his advocacy of the shipping bill. Upon his motion the executive committee was_ in- structed to inquire into the circum- stances and to lend its moral support to Mr. Pollard. Resolutions , Adopted By Committee. The following resolutions were adopted iby the executive committee: Resolved, That we pledge renewed co-op- eration with patriotic citizens of all parties, in all sections of the country, in an un- ceasing effort to secure national legislation for the upbuilding of American shipping in. the = océan- trade. We commend the patriotic statesmanship of the senators and representatives in congress who have sup- ported this movement, the question we _be- lieve to be the most imp»rtant now tefore the American people. Jt aims to make ef- ficient our navy, of whom every citizen is justly proud, by providing adequate colliers, transports and other auxiliaries, important in times of peace and imperative in times of war. No interest will be benefited more than agriculture, which feeds the artisan, whose product can successfully compete in foreign markets only when transported in American bottoms and freed from discriminative rates imposed against it by ships subsidized by for- eign © countries. In addition to. this, more than one-half of our exports. consist of farm products. The Isthmian » canal will prove its worth to the American people only in _ proportion as they make use of it through an ade- quate merchant marine to secure for American agriculture and American manufacture their share of the more than one thousand million of imports consumed in countries washed by the Pacific ocean. oS Resolved, That we deplore the condition of our merchant marine, which causes Amer- ican material to Panama, coal between Amer- ican ports for the use of our navy, and our mails and military supplies for the Philippines to be carried under foreign flags. | Resolved, That it is the sense of this league that the government afford every rea- sonable encouragement to American shipping, not only to our outlying possessions, but es- pecially to Panama, where we are now prosecuting the most important and _ far- reaching enterprise which any nation has ever undertaken. Resolved, further, That we urge "upon commercial and patriotic bodies everywhere _that they begin at once and actively prose- 'cute an educational campaign upon this sub- ject. No question is more appropriate, and none more worthy. Some Brilliant Speeches. The banquet at the Hollenden which marked the close of the sessions was a brilliant affair. Seated at the speak- ers' table were former Secretary Leslie "TAE Marine REVIEW M: Shaw, Congressman J; -Sloat--Fas- sett, former Governor Myron T. Her- rick, Congressman Richmond P. Hob- son, former Congressman James T. McCleary, Congressman William E. Humphrey, Congressman Charles B. Landis, Commfssioner of Navigation Eugene Tyler Chamberlain, Daniel J. Sully, of New York, Harvey D. Gould- er, of Cleveland, Walter S. Russel, of Detroit, Ambrose Swasey, of Cleveland, William C. Dickey, of Indiana Har- bor; H. A. Rose, Leavenworth, Kas.; J. G. Butler, Jr, of Youngstown, Geo. H. Barbour, of Detroit; Charles' S. Howe, of Cleveland, and William P. Murray, of Cleveland. Mr. J. G. Butler, Jr., introduced Col. J. J. Sullivan, president of the Central National bank of Cleveland, as toast- master of the evening. Col. Sullivan, after proposing a toast to 'the presi- dent of the United. States, introduced Mr. Leslie M. Shaw as the first speaker of the evening. Address of Leslie M, Shaw. Mr. Shaw's address was a_ direct plea for the encouragement of com- merce. He held this to be the true American sentiment and: showed that coastwise commerce had been encour- aged by reserving it to the American ship, that the building of railroads have been encouraged by the grants of lands, that manufacture had been encouraged by protective duties: The one thing that had not been encouraged, which . had; .-1n-iaet,. been. com- pelled to operate under the ~ artifi- cial handicaps imposed by our fiscal policy, was the American ship in the oversea trade. By reason of this pol- icy the American ship is practically unknown in foreign ports and some South American countries do not even know that the United States is on the map. He thought it strange that the United States should spend millions to develop its harbors and withhold the. money needful to enable the American ship to utilize them. He also deplored our lack of transports 'and colliers as a supplement to the navy. His ad- dress dealt with facts and as such was direct and convincing. : Congressman Hobson's Recital. Congressman Hobson followed Mr. 'Shaw. He spoke of the need of the navy. As the leading figure in one cof the most dramatic incidents in the Spanish-American war what he said was listened to with the closest atten- tion. His recital of his imprisonment at the fortress of Santiago and the im- 'pression made upon bim as from his window after. may weeks, he saw the Spanish flag descend from the fort- ress and the United States flag take manufactured being, and our great government will _lend its powerful aid, just as in the past it has given substantial encour- trated upon 13 its place evoked thunderous rounds of applause. His plea was for prepared- ness, for ability to defend our rights at all times and in all places. He is a consistent advocate of a large navy with an auxiliary marine commensur- ate, Mrs. Seabury C. Ford sang "The Star Spangled Banner." Colton Is Our Greatest Asset. Mr. Daniel J. Sully, of New York, spoke of the immensity of the cotton trade, which he held to be the com- modity that will eventually maintain American supremacy among nations. Ore and coal does not renew in the ground, the lumber supply could be- come exhausted, 'but cotton annually renews itself. Concerning it he said: "The future of American supremacy over sea is not to be based on corn and wheat or beef, for our great food products, before many years, will be consumed at home by our vigorous American . millions. What is it that must make America pre-eminent? What does America produce, and America alone, in sufficient quantities, which civilized mankind calls for and upon whith the progress of the world in- contestably depends? Cotton. .. "Such a commodity is produced in these United States. Cotton is Amer- ica's greatest. asset, more priceless than its gold, that is to be the heritage of 'olur people forever." "Tf you will concentrate your ener- gies upon our chief commodity--cot- ton--which you, as Americans, must ultimately do, the ships to carry this great. commodity, both in its-raw and states, will spring into agement to transcontinental lines, when the leaders of that industry concen- solving the transportation problems of the New World. Amer- ica should plow all seas for the far- mer who plows American soil." Favors Direct Subsidy. Congressman J. Sloat Fassett spoke in favor of a direct subsidy. He ridi- culed the idea of war with' Japan and put the question upon other grounds wholely. 'could not compete in oversea shipping He. thought that this country with the ships of other nations unless the handicaps imposed by the protective tariff were compensated by direct aid. The concluding -speech of the evening was made by Harvey D. Goulder, the first president of the Merchant Marine League, who was greeted with great applause, many rising in their seats to cheer him when he rose to speak. Mr. Goulder declared that, ev- eryone present should~ dedicate. himself to renewed efforts for the restoration of the American merchant marine. He felt that the defeat of the ocean mail bill was only a temporary setback and that a new dawn for the American merchant marine was_ breaking,