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120 WHEREAS, under our present econ- omic system, coupled with the American standard of living, some such provisions as those contained in said Humphrey bill must be adopted by our people, if we are to compete with the subsidized niail ships of foreign countries, with their cheaper-paid, cheaper-fed and cheaper - housed crews; and, WHEREAS, the restoration ,of the American merchant marine at the very earliest possible moment is the most _vital problem before the American peo- ple today, involving, as it does, our prosperity in peace and our security im war: THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, zs delegates to the Gulf States Merchant _ Marine League in convention assembled, urge upon our senators and represent- atives in the national congress to sup- port and vote for said measure, which in our opinion is the only practical be- ginning towards the restoration of our flag to the seas, now largely controlled by vessels of foreign countries, and which would also result in the up-build- ing of a fleet of auxiliary cruisers so indispensable to our needs, in the event of war; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the time has arrived in the history of our country, when this all-important matter must be considered as a patriotic movement, that we_ strongly protest against its being made a partisan meas- u1e in any sense; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we vigorously protest against any at- tempt being made by any caucus, to influence adversely the judgment of our representatives in congress; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we emphatically protest against the activ- ities of such representatives of foreign shipping interests as are working for the defeat of the Humphrey bill. (Signed) Peter A. Lawton, Chairman Resolution Committee. Ce errs, Horace TUuRNER. i: Td WEED JR: Louis P. Bryant. Horace L. Pircuer. Much interest is being displayed in San Francisco in the revival of Amer- ican shipping in the oversea trade. Re- cently Major H. G. Mathewson, tech- nical officer of the Coast Artillery, Na- tional Guard of California, set apart a battallion drill in order that the whole of the seven companies might assemble to hear an address on the necessity for a merchant marine to facilitate the rapid . movement of troops in case of war. Capt. John Barneson gave an instruct- Tae Marine REVIEW ive talk before the California Club on the subject of the merchant marine. After reviewing the decline of our. over- sea shipping, he said: "Tt is plain that the situation must be made clear to all that our present posi- tion is a national disgrace and a na- tional danger; that its seriousness can- not be overestimated and that it is the imperative duty of every loyal American to impress upon his representatives and senators in congress the immediate nec- essity for passing laws that will foster and encourage the jupbuilding of the merchant marine at any cost." , The New Orleans Stock Exchange last month adopted the following resolu- tions in support of the American mer- chant marine: "Whereas, the gulf states are vitally interested in the restoration of the Am- erican flag to the high seas on account of expected large increase in tonnage from all parts of the world which will come inevitably upon the opening of the Panama canal in 1915, and "Whereas, this will undoubtedly be such an impetus to commerce as will | make the gulf ports the most important in the United States when this long- hoped-for event comes to pass; there- fore be it "Resolved, that the New Orleans Stock Exchange gives its. emphatic support to the Humphrey ocean mail bill and urges its representatives in congress to support the passage of the aforesaid bill." The board of directors of the Bus- iness Men's League of Louisiana adopt- ed resolutions last month endorsing the Humphrey shipping bill. Considerable interest in the rehabilitation of the mer- chant marine has been aroused in New Orleans owing to the stragetic position which it occupies in relation to com- merce with South America. At a meet- ing recently held in the rooms of the Progressive Union, Peter S: Lawton made a stirring address upon the sub- ject. Alfred Spring, associate justice, -Ap- pellate Division, New York supreme court, has an excellent article in the January Outlook upon the subject "The Revival of Our Shipping." His preface says: "There is nothing more justly humili- ating for the national pride and nothing more hurtful to the national prosperity than the inferiority of our merchant ma- rine compared with other nations whose general resources, wealth and sea coast lines do not suggest anything for their supremacy on the sea." He touches upon the decline of our merchant marine since the civil war, on the lack of our facilities in reaching the March, 1910 countries south of us, on the great aq. vances made in our foreign trade rela. tions, and the pitiable decline of oy merchant marine in that trade. He urges the establishment of branch banks abroagq as an aid to commerce and advocates the passage of the Ocean Mail Bill. His presentation of the case is most force. ful throughout. Bernard N. Baker has an article jy the Manufacturers' Record for January on "The Vast Shipping Possibilities of the South.' He points to the fact that the 5,000-mile coast line extending from the head of Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande is the finest. in the United States. From Baltimore to Corpus Christi a chain .of magnificent harbors invite the traffic of the world. His article is an endeavor to awaken the south to the fact that its location with relation to South America, Central America and the Orient will give it a commanding position when the Panama canal is completed and the trade op- portunities of the new markets are opened to its commerce. He shows that in order to reach the Chilian market the Hamburg merchant must ship his goods 3,308 miles further than the Charleston: merchant and that the Liver- pool mail steamer must sail 3,469 miles further to reach Valparaiso than the mail steamer from Key West. He adds: "What we want and what the south should be more particularly concerned over is ships to carry away our own products and to bring to our shores such imports as we need for our use. We: want American ships. It is no longer disputed that trade follows the flag. I have seen this demonstrated again and again during my long experience as pres- ident of an over-sea steamship line. The ship carrying the American flag is a floating. advertisement of American en- terprise and American goods. Southern people should urge their representatives in congress to consider what it means to the southern industries and southern re- sources to have direct steamship lines from the great southern ports to the west coast of South America and _ be- yond that to the Orient." The Manitowoc Boiler Works Co., of Manitowoc, Wis., have just constructed and installed three Scotch marine boil- ers 1Z ft. 6 in. in. diameter by. 12m long for the new steel passenger steam- er Alabama, being built by the Manito- woe Dry Dock Co., for the Goodrich Transit Co., Chicago, Ill. The Manitowoc company are manufacturers of all kinds of heavy plate work and the facilities for handling their products are excep- tionally good. The plant is now work- ing a large force of men to take care of the incoming orders.