The Holly chieftain., 1901-05-24
PRESIDENT MKNLEys VIEWS
THE LAUNCHING OF THE OHIO

erence and acknowledgement. for l
to the EallaAt First California volun-
teers, that were among the first in the
field and almost the last TO leave 1t.
and performed cOnSpicuously gallant
service In the compaign In the Phil.
ippine islands.
No one can sand surrounded by
the workmen Of this great establish
ment without recalling the splendid,
work done by the ships you have
builded and their priceless services 10
the country. ~ q 4
when Admiral Dewey was direct
ed to go to Manila and destroy the
Spanish fleet or capture 1t. he made
the Olympia, which you builded. his
flagship, and his command, directed
from that ship, performed one of the
most brilliant achievements IN the an
mails of the American navy. 20
NNor can we forget for a moment
that 1t was your skill and genius that
made the Oregon. The hours Of anx-
ious waiting will never be known
when the Oregon started to join the
fleet at Santiago. Days and days we
heard not one word from her. But we
had confidence in the stout ship you
had builded. and we had confidence In
that gallant officer, Captain Clark,
who commanded 1t. l shall never for.
get the early morning when Captain
Clark telegraphed from the Florida
shore: @fee 8 es2. IN tSfis
1.-The Oregon rs here and needs no
repairs and is ready for action. ~
Il don't want a ship in the American
navy built this year to be any better
than the Ohio. 1 say that to you
among ourselves. say 1t to you work
men who are going to build her, fof
have a great deal of pride in the old
state
Il have, n great deal of pride In the
name, but proud as am ef my native
state, l am Il thousand times more
proud of the nation that Is over all the
states. supreme and sovereign and
glorions in its mission Of good will
and liberty to all mankind. fiyit,i
What we want is to build more
ships. We ought to have a good com
mercial line frem here to the Philip
pines, made in. the Union Iron Works,
built by American workingmen and
manned by American sailors and car
, rying the American flag.
We have overcome distance. We
not only want a commercial line but
we want a cable from here to the Phil
ippines. ii.,t .tJ4 a.
I'VE want 1t to be an American
cable, that cannot he cut by any power
In the world. They say trade follows
the flag. The telegraph must follow
trade.
My fellow citizens. we have great
problems before us. We never had
! more important ones. We have ex.
pnnded. DO you want to contract? i?
1t Is not question of whether we
will acquire the Philippines or Porto
Rico, or Guam, or Wake island, or
Hawaii or Tmtuila. We have ac-
quired them; they are ours. The ques-
ton is. fshall we give them up? Gen
of this country to the other comes
answer. They are ours not to sub
1ugate, but to emancipate; not to rule
In the power Of might, but to take to
the distant people the principles of
liberty, and freedom of conscience and
OF opportunity that are enjoyed by the
people of the United States.
our nag never goes anywhere ex-
cept it carries blessings. Our flag
never oppressed anybody. but 1t has
given freedom to every people over
whom 1t has fioated. 5fi9i
Having said this much, only want
to thank you all for this cordial vel
come. I am glad again to meet the
workingmen of my country. All my
public life has been devoted In effort
to giving the wOrkingmeh the best
opportunity, the best chance for good
wages and stendy employment.
When labor Is well employed, the
country is safe. and when labor is well
employed there Is contentment and
happiness in the homes of the labor
ing men.
Let me say that shall carry this
beautiful souvenir OF the employees of
the Eni0h Iron Works with me and It
shall abide with me so long as l live,
and shall be passed along to those Of
my family that shall follow me as one
OF the dearest token l have ever re-
ceived from my fellow countrymen.'
The ceremonies connected with the
launching were simple. There was no
speech-making. Mrs. Ida Eckert Law
renee Of Ohio read an original poem.
AT 12:221., two and one-half minutes
before the tide was at It's highest, the
time set for its launching, there sud
denly shot up into the face of the in
dicator Ready"
/ Miss Barber pressed the button. The
last block fell away. At the same time
Miss Helen Deshles, a young lady of
seventeen, in a light gown, with her
hair braided down her back in school
girl fashion, let go of the bottle of
suspended at the side Of
the how hy n retl white md hlue rih-