The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-29

Mr.. SeWall has resigned. He gives
up the presidency that he has in hand
for the sake of increasing his chances
to catch the vice presidency that is in
the bush. He has sent to the secre-
tary of the American Merchant Ma
rine association a resignation Of the
presidency of that organization in a
letter that betrays at once a mock
Indignation and singular obtuseness.
THE origin he says, land the pur-
pose of this organization was to adj
vocate, and by all proper methods pro-
mote, the restoration of the merchant
marine of this country I have
always regarded it as a national ques-
ton, and believed that both the great
parties, after proper investigation,
would be equally interested to effect the
legislation that would restore to our
nation its supremacy on the ocean.
Your recent methods of introducing
politics and partisanship into the
working of your office do not meet
my approval" and he consequently
resigned the headship of the organiza-
ton
What is the American Merchant
Marine association? What is its object
that the candidate for the vice presi-
dency deems so laudahle? How does
it purpose accomplishing It? What is
this secretary doing that so offends
the Bath shipmaster? The members are
owners of American vessels, and the
purpose is to secure legislation by con-
gress that viii foster the industry of
owning and sailing them. This it pur-
poses to accomplish by means Of sub
sides and by means Of discriminating
tariffs on goods brought into our ports
in vessels other than those of Ameri-
can register. The methods heretofore
adopted to build up our merchant ma
rine, such as prohibiting registration
of vessels built abroad, and laying an
additional 10 per cent tax on imports
in foreign vessels not exempted by
treaty. together with the stiff tax laid
on all imports Of ship stuffs, not hav-
ing accomplished the restoration Of
our merchant vessels to their former
proud supremacy attained under free
ships, the natural conclusion, natural
to all protectionists is that all that is
needed is more of the same kind Of
legislation. 1t, therefore, proposes to
have congress protect this industry
still more than it has ever been. 1t was
for this that its officers attended the
Republican national convention and
secured the insertion in the platform
of the plank about our merchant ma
rine 1t was TO get a similar one from
the Chicago convention that the Bath
shipmaster went there, and, failing in
that, got the vice presidential nominal
ton
what has the secretary been doing?
Nothing but business. Mckinley is
the only candidate pledged to do what
the association and it's ex-president
wanted done. Very naturally, then.
he feels that the association should
help Mckinley. To this end he has
been sending begging letters to the
members asking them to contribute
money to aid Mckinley. He has felt
that they might be too generous in
their contributions. so he has thought
fully suggested the amount the person
addressed should send He must have
been at some time a member
of political committee. and
then learned that it is nee
essary to check the ardor of candidates
and others by placing a limit on the
amount they might give to the funds
of the campaign. This is the secre-
tary's offense which has Sc perturbed
the soul of the old protectionist from
Maine that he cannot remain longer
member.
This being the purpose of the asso-
citation of which Mr.. Sewall has been
, the head, and these its methods. we
submit, in all can6or, that Mr.. sewa,l
has sent his resignation to the wrong
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