The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-28
COAST DEFENSE CONVENTION
1T CONCLUDES ITS LABORS Al
TAMA. FLA.-RESOLUTIONs
ADOPTED. -
ATTENTION OF STATE LEGISLATORS.
Of Coast States Called to the Necessity
Of Establishing Defensive Works
The National Defense Associa-
ton Was Organized.

Tampa. Fla, Jan. 22.-The South At
| Iont;c md Gulf states habor improvement
and coast defense convention hnished ns
labors this afternoon.
Papers were read by Lieut.. Fithlan OF
the United States steamship ltaielgh ana
Ira Rawless of New York. II. U. Mac
Farland of this city spoke at length ON
the object of the convention.
The National Defense ASSOCIATION was
organized with the following ofhcefs'
President Gen. Horace Porter, New
York; secretary, Col. Frye, Ohio; wee
presidents, Gen. Lew Wallace of Indiana,
A. ]. Mcclure of Pennsylvania, Gen. r.
A. Alger of Michigan, NJ. II. DeYoung
of California, William Miller of Florida,
John c. Roper of Massachusetts,; national
committee, Frank C. Brown of Massa-
chusetts, A. H. Wiley of Florida, Capt.
A. ]. O'Brien of Florida. A. c. McLen-
den of Georgia, A. D. Waller OF Illinois,
G. A. Dupree of Louisiana. E. A. Nc
Alpin of New York, c. A. Dewey. OF
North Carolina, S. r. Stebbins of North
Dakota, w. r. Thompson of Pennsyiva-
mia, j. A. Hemphill of South Carolina,
III. Wells of Vermont.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That this convention deems
il a patriotic duty to urgently request
congress to provide by law for improve
ments and reforms i'll the army as set
forth in the army reorganization bill, and
that a copy of this resolution be trans,
mitted 10 the president of the senate and
tb Of IN hnnsn nf n
tiycs of the United States, asking for an
early consideration of this subject by the
two houses of congress.
Resolved. That it is the sense of this
convention that an appropriation for the
state militia of the United States be
made and distributed pro rata as pro-
vided by law. and Springfield Rifles be
issued 10 the various state guards and
arms now in their possession be turned
over 10 the government
Resolved. That this convention calls
the attention of the various state legiS-
atureS of the coast states. wherein are
located works of the government, to the
necessity Of establishing batteries, bat
,alions and regiments as trained reserve
ready 10 act in support of the general
army for coast defense duty.
Resolved. That appropriations should
BE- made 10 assist in supporting this re-
serve or national guard by the congress
IF the United States.
Resolved. That the national guard il
urged 10 assist and foster this arm Of our
national defense.
Resolved. That congress lie urged to
provide such states having naval reserves
with war vessel. :oE Instructions 1t such
season u ihe year =. may t@ hs-st suited
tQr -he pl-rne@-
R&,s.5re5, TIM Ltjis o~urp9t.Ga urges
1.,t .t,'gastitlE Ut IllIu,'.,iute u..s5deration
II Tine sutirt Nv M, lutu-.sl govern
mnIu lud .rtH Necessity VI prcfee'iag such
jp,uts IL ,.re i!,luts ~ .ue ATTACKED in case
.h uHHlii,lirs IND prIr upon congress the
necessity If i,mme.t!lle appropriations
su,!tttir ~ GERRY uta ths plane formulated
H tnr WIZ ti'Gnr'tnput- and furthermore
rhi.t cuese appropriations te made availa-
t',E ~ ulirs ~ rus auds that the plans
uiur ." G1wiirtra without delay"