The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-03

the Congress at Length on the
Needs and Advantages of a Mer-
EauaI to the Greatness of the
United States.
WICHITA, Kan, June 2.-This was res
olution day for the Mississippi con-
gress. Debate was warm over the recon-
mendation to be urged upon congress rel
ative to federal aid to state irrigation
projects, subsidies for merchant marine
and grain freight rate discrimination py
railway lines as between domestice ship
ments and shipments for export.
The congress adopted resolution favor
ing arid land cession to states and fed
eral subsidies to merchant marine, and
denouncing preference in rates to grain
for export. The congress also indorsed
free homes" and the opening of Indian
reservation lands, statehood for all the
territories, establishment of new cabinet
offices-mines and mining and commerce
and industry, and the establishment of a
national academy for training consular
VI
politics.
In the resolution committee interest
centered in the stubborn fight on the irri-
cation resolutions. After long and
stubborn fight an agreement was reached
in the committee unqualifedly indorsing
the resolutions and policy of the national
irrigation congress. These resolutions
were adopted by the entire Trans-Missis-
sippi congress without a dissenting voice.
Houston was declared as the next place
of meeting. Tom Richardson, secretary
of the Houston Business league, was
elected secretary.
The congress adopted resolutions
strongly indorsing the proposed interna-
national exposition, to be held at st.
Louis in 1903, in commemoration of the
Louisiana purchase centennial. Repre-
sentatives and senators arc requested to
aid the exposition by supporting the
propositions for the federal government
to- extend a loan of $5O00,00O to the st.
Louis Worlds Fair 1t is also recon-
mended that every state and territory in
the Mississippi session have an
exhibit of it's products and resources at
the exposition.
At the afternoon session the programme
was as follows: Free Homes,'' D. L.
Flynn, Oklahoma; Merchant Marine,
W.. W. Bates, Denver; c. G. Comtant,
New York; A. R. Smith, New York; Tn
herent Commercial Sea Powers of West
ern Waterways" John T. Cahill, St.
Louis, La; Transportation, or How to
Be Saved,'' T. c. Henry; Introduction of
De- TN:-A
rope" Hon. W. L. Stark Aurora, Neb.
In his paper on 1.-The Need of an Ameri-
can Merchant Marine" Mr.. Smith said:
KEEP FLAG IN SIGHT.
I consider it most fortunate circum-
stance that, hundreds of miles distant
from tidal navigation, in the very heart
of the trans s-Mississippi section, it is my
good fortune to present to an assem-
blage representative of this vast portion
of our Union, a subject of such momen-
tous national Importance as the restora-
ton of American ships to the foreign
carrying trade. A few years ago some
patriot suggested that the Stars and
Stripes be hoisted daily over American
school houses, and, as result, the eyes
of car boys and our girls are daily glad
dened with the sight of the flag of their
country, in whom, as consequence, we
believe is instilled a deeper sense of pa
triotiSm and a keener appreciation of
the significance of the emblem that pro-
claims the inseparable unity of rs, ,OO0 900
of the most intelligent, the most pro-
gressive, the most prosperous and the
most happy human beings on earth.
am here today to suggest that we fly the
American flag at the mastheads of Amer
ican-built ships in sufficient number to
secure the carrying of the larger part of
our imports and exports, so that the
citizens and subjects of all other coun-
tries may have their eyes frequently
gladdened with the symbol of American
unity and liberty. Let us teach those
n I-fel mt A-so
ply with the products Of our farms, our
mines and our factories, that the carriers
of our products and of theirs, from and
TO our shores, may be built equally as
good IN American Shipyards, at least as
they can be built anywhere else in the
world.
CRYING NEED FOR SHIPS.
We have but recently successfully con-
cluded war with Spain. 1t was al
most in its entirety, naval war. Is
there one person in this audience that
does not feel a thrill of pride at the
achievements of our warships under the
direction of Dewey and of Sampson and
of Schley? Those grand warships were
built In our own shtpyards. They were
constructed out of our own native ma
terials. From the initial mining of the
IRON ore In Minnesota or Alabama to the
final construction of the ships in our At
lantic and Pacific Coast shipyards thew
provided employment for our own people.
1t was our own countrymen who were
of American materials and skill On fha
bridge, In the engine room and at the
guns they were your neighbors and
mfne-our heroic countrymen Are vou
not aware, though, that at every sten in
that war, although pitted against one of
the weakest maritime powers, our own
maritlne weakness was constant
source OF the gravest danger? Don't YOU
know that we urgently needed mercha M
ships for every kind of auxiIiarv naWai
service. and that we badly needed and
could not obtain enough seamen to mo iro
up the crews of our WarShipS2 Arc 20,
not aware that 1t was with the I,trnoSt
difflculty that we secured a very lirnifed
number OF merchant ships and merchant
seamen-that, at best, our supply was far
short OF our requirements? -
1t was only the impotency of orr e,,a,,,,,
and the superior effectiveness and inta1if.
gence OF our own ships and men that
saved the nation from hurnilIation .iaS anS
disaster. And the next time IL shall hs
Our misfortune to cross swords with % .
foreign enemy, what will be orr fats
think you, If that enemy should hammer
to be Great Britain, or Germany ~
france, or Russia, or even Japan? WouId
not our need of merchant ships and oi
merchant seamen be multiplied over and
over again? 1t is undeniable. NAV fhis
nation safely continue then. do vn1 ttllr
think, to ignore the right arm. tho so,e
recourse for the recruitment and Aid "a
our navy-Our merchant marine a~IIpt ~
disaster and defeat make clear to ms or,
perilous weakness upon the sea?
RESOURCE OF DEFENSE
But there are those who tell MS 70 a.,
abroad to buy the merchant ships thai