, 1901-05-23

aNo one can stand 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 20
the country. u
.When Admiral Dewey was direct
ed to go to Manila and destroy the
Spanish fleet or capture it. he made
the Olympia. which yop builded, his
flagship. and his command, directed
from that ship. performed II of the
most brilliant achievements in the an
nails of the American navy.
Nor can we forget for n 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 n days we
heard not one word from her. But We
had confidence in the tout ship you
had builded, and we had confidence in
that gallant officer, Captain Clark.
who commanded 1t. / shall never for
get the early morning when Captain
Clark telegraphed from the Florida
shore:
1.-The Oregon is here and needs no
repairs Inc is ready for action.
'And she went and performed mag
nificent service for the country. /
si " - Nou I VI 80 49,
Iron Works for your assistance in the
defense of our common country. i
want to thank you for having builded
ships that have maintained the honor
of the United States n added new
glory to the navy of the United
States.
Il don't want n ship in the American
navy built this year to be any better
than the Ohio. say that to you
Il. 40. .-4.. ...ArIg
men who are going to build her, for
| have a great deal of pride in the old
state.
Il have n great deal of pride in the
name, but proud as | am of my native
state. | am n thousand times more
proud of the nation that Is over all the
states. supreme and sovereign and
glorious in its mission of good will
and liberty to all mankind.
what we want is to build more
ships. We ought TO have a good com
rhercial line from here to the Philip
pines, made in the Union Iron Works,
built by American workingmen and
manned by American sailors n car
rying the American flag.
have overcome distance. We
not only n a commercial line. but
we want a cable from here to the Phil
ippines.
I'VE want ii to be an American
cable. that canno be cut by n 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-
banded. Do o want TO contract?
1t is not a question of whether we
will acquire the Philippines or Porto
Rico, or Guam. or Wake island. or
Hawaii. or Tutuila. We have ac-
quired them: they are ours. The ques-
ton is. shall we give them up? Gen
eral cry of NO. And from one end
of this country to the other comes
answer. They are ours o to sub
jugate, but 10 ~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 hat are enjoyed by the
people of the United States.
Our flag never goes anywhere ex
cept 1t carries blessings. Our flag
never oppressed anybody. but it has
given freedom to every people over
whom it has fioated.
Having said this much, | only want
to thank you all for this cordial vel
COME. i am glad again 10 meet the
PohNihSihNh VI my tOuutIN. AL lily
public life has been devoted in effort
to giving the workingmen the best
opportunity. the best chance for good
wages and steady 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 Union 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 We're simple. There was no
speech-making. Mrs. Ida Eckert Law
renee of Ohio read an original poem.
At 12:221a. w and one-half minutes
before the tide was at its highest, the
time set for its launching, there sud
denly shot up into the face of the in
dictator Ready
Miss Barber pressed the button. The
last block fell away. At the same time
Miss Helen Deshles. n young lady of
seventeen. in Il light gown, with her
hair braided down her back in school
girl fashion. let go of the bottle of
champagne suspended at the side of
the bow by a red, white and blue rib
bon. and as 1t crashed against the
side she uttered the words, II christen
thee Ohio"
Released from Its bonds the heavy
hull of 1900 tons of steel went
ploughing through the thick grease of
its cradle. Slowly, at first, then faster
and faster. she slid down the ways,
taking the hood majestically and pill
ing up the water in great waves be-
fore her. The band crashed, whistles
blew and he multitude shouted.
No ship ever given to the navy has
taken her initial plunge into the sea
under more favorable auspices, or in
the presence of n more distinguished
company.
The trip back to the city was al
most n repetition OF the journey to the
yard. There was the same wild dem
! onstration from sea and shore.