Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-23
BIDS FAIR TO RESULT WELL
The Coast Defense and HarbOr
Improvement Convention
CONCLUDES IT'S LABORS
And indications Point TO Carrying Out of the
Desired Object
A NATIONAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION
Organized With Full List of Officers and
onamittees-Resolutions to Congress
Adopted Vote of Thanks to Tam
pa Officials and II. P. Plant.

pa Officials and 81. P. Plant.
Tampa, Fla, Jan. 22.-The Coast De-
Tense and Harbor Improvement conven-
tion held its closing session today and
adopted resolutions setting forth the
objects the delegates wish to accomplish.
The proceedings began with ex-Gov.
Mitchell, of Florida. in the chair. Gov.
Mitchell called Gen. McAlpin, of New
York. to preside over the deliberations
of the body. Upon taking the chair Gen..
McAlpin read a splendid paper upon the
Importance of completing as rapidly as
possible the coast defense project that at
present is under way. At the conclusion
of his address the committee on resolu-
tions submitted its report as follows:
LIST. Resolved, That this convention will
entertain no resolution or other matter
offered for its consideration not germanes
TO the national defense.
Cd. Resolved, That this convention
shall not submit any suggestions to the
United States government looking to-
wards the appropria ton of any specific
sum of money for national defense, leav-
ing the matter entirely to the recommen-
dalton of the proper authorities, and
Whereas, there is now before the con-
gress of the United States a measure OF
great Importance to the general welfare
of the country, and of pressing necessi-
ty for the Improvement of our harbors
known as the army organization BILL"
and,
whereas. the increase by two regiments
of the artillery branch of the army, as
therein provided will be in the line OF
economic administration by providing
the government with trained force of
workmen at a minimum cost, to preserve
and care for the costly sea coast de-
lenses, machinery and armament, while
at the same time securing the services
of disciplined soldiers In time of war, and
Whereas, the formation of a regiment
of artillery, as now required by law INTO
a single battalion Of detail to each state
having naval reserve, war vessel or
torpedo boat or both for the instruction
of the naval reserve at such seasons of
the year as may be decided upon as best
for the interests of the service, and IL Is
Resolved, that to provide for coast de-
tense II Is imperative that the strength
of the navy of the United States shall be
steadily increased by the yearly addition
of fighting ships and torpedo boats until
the force Is adequate to meet the emer-
gencies of a state of war, and
Whereas, this convention appreciates
its inability to determine the important
question of coast defense from technical
standpoint, 1t Is
Resolved, That it does appreciate the
necessity of immediate protection to- the
seaboard of your country and Importance
of defending all points liable to invasion
by hostile forces; and, therefore. 1t Is
further
Resolved, does most earnestly urge
upon our representatives in congress the
necessity for immediate appropriation
sufficient to carry out the plan formu-
lated by the war department; and fur
Their urge that this appropriation be made
available at once to the end that the
plans of the department may be complet-
ed without delay.
Pending action on the report. H. c. Nc
Farlane, on behalf of the Tampa board of
trade, expressed delight and surprise at
the great Importance and magnitude the
convention had assumed. He outlined
the part played by Tampa In bringing
about this great convention. and paid
glowing tribute to III. B. Plant, which
was enthusiastically received.
Colonel ]. A. Frye, of Massachusetts,,
secretary of the convention. delivered a
stirring address On national coast de-
Tense and harbor Improvement. The
resolutions were then adopted without
debate.
The committee on resolutions reported
further, recommending the organization
of a National Defense association and
that the following constitute the officers
OF the permanent association for the first
year:
President. Gen. Horace Porter, of New
York; secretary, Col. J. A Frye. of Mas
sachusetts first vice-president. Gen. J. B.
Gordon of Georgia; second vice-presi-
dent Gen. Lew Wallace, Of Indiana;
third vice-president Hon. A. X. Nc
Clure of Pennsylvania: fourth vice.
president. Gen. r. A. Alger. of Michi-
gan; fifth vice-president, M. H. De
Young. of California; sixth vice-president.
Gen. William Miller, of Florida; seventh
vice-president, John c.. Copes. of Massa-
National committee-Alabama, A. A.
Wiley; Florida. J. E. O'Bricn; Georgia,
s. C. McLendon: Indiana. 4. M. De
Freese; Illinois, o. s. Witherall; Kens
lucky, w. B. Haldeman; louisiana, J. w.
Dupree: Minnesota. e. c. Babb: New
York, E. A. McAlpin: North Carolina, c.
Dewey; North Dakota. S. e. Stebbins;
Pennsylvania, William r. Thompson;
South Carolina, J. C. Hemphill; Vermont,
Henry Wells.
The legislative committee of each state
is as follows:
Alabc.aa--I. w. Burke. w. e. wiles. w.
W. Screws.
Florida. It. C. Taliaferro, w. A. Rawis,
w. II. Knowles.
Georgia-J. H. Estill, r. w. Grubb.
South Carolina-Willam Elliott, w. D.
Morgan. James H. Murdoch.
Kentucky-Henry Watterson, 8. b.
Truey, John Yelkes.
Iowa-A. Holland. ]. S. Patten, Sam
Alley.
Minnesota-Robert Pratt, Albert Schaf-
er, o. l.. Cutler.
observation-disclosures Curtis Gill, Jr.,
George A. Jones, Thomas Talbot.
I.ouisiana--Allen Jumel David f. Boyd,
O. G. McCIelland
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Wells T. s. Peck,
W. s. Webb.
Ohio-George W. Gardner, D. K Wat
son, J. b. Foraker Jr.
Pennsylvania-Alex K. Mcclure, Eu-
gene O'Neil Kaufman.
Indiana-W. X. Mckee James A. Ross
Samuel G.. Campton.
New York-W. c. Sanger, J. w Miller,
w. c. Wallace.
North Dakota-Roger Allen, John Ben
ton. w E. PARCEL
All vacancies are to be filled by the
national committee.