The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-15
CONVENTION Of THE
COTTON SP|NNERS
The Gathering at Atlanta
Largely Attended.
MCADEN ON RECIPROCITY
Hoke Smith and Senator McLaurin
Make Addresses
.McADEN ON RECIPROCITY
FOR AN AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
McAden Would Have the Association Make a
Declaration Along This Line. At The
Smoker Mclaurin Spssks in
aSimilar S.rair.
a Similar S.rair.
(By the Associated Press. J


Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 1.-THE Southern
Cotton Spinners' Association met in an
nual convention here today. This is the
fifth yearly gathering of the assoca-
tion and the attendance was large many
people from New York, Pennsylvania and
the New England States inscribing their
sion was held in the morning session and
the afternoon was given over to sight
seeing the delegates being guests of the
Southern Railway on trip around At
lanta.
After the welcome address this morn
ing, DR.. McAden, president of the asso-
citation, delivered his address. He recon-
mended declaration by the spinners IN
favor of a merchant marine upon
basis that will give all American citizens
AN equal chance, prevent favoritsm to en-
trenched interests and recognize the pro-
ducing classes in the reduction of freight
rates.
He also favored the building and con-
struction, as soon as possible, of the 18TH
man Canal. On reciprocity. Dir. McAden
said:
THE immense balance of trade in our
favor creates the necessity of our finding
a market for our surplus products. We
should do all that we can to advance both
the letter and the spirit a. reciprocity
We specially desire closer commercial
relations with South America and the
Orient"
AT a smoker" in the Kimball House
tonight Hon. Hoke Smith, of Atlanta,
spoke on Development of Our Home Tai
ent." and also Senator John l.. McLaurin
on Extension of Our Foreign Trade
Senator McLaurin said:
1--WE are at the dawning of a new day
of progress in the history of the world A
better era is fast approaching when all
people will have a perfect understanding
OF the brotherhood of man and the i'll
dependence of nations. For two thousand
years the policies of the world have been
conducted upon the inhuman idea of she'd
ding blood. This has served a useful pur-
pose in the civilization of mankind awful
as it is to contemplate but that purpose
has now been accomplished. Until very
recently commerce was not deemed
proper subject for governmental consid-
Grafton. There is no direct department
of commerce in any government except
that of Germany. The moving considera-
tion prompting the settlement of the
Chinese trouble was commercial The
time will come when the best minds of
every country will be called upon to ad-
just the complicated questions of foreign
trade and the consular offices at the lead
ing ports of commerce will equal in i'm
portance the diplomatic ambassadors
In connection with the extension of the
South'S foreign trade, Senator McLaurin
advocated an American merchant marine
"Our weakness upon the sea is the one
great danger that confronts the nation'
said the Senator "If ships could be built
in the United States as cheaply and oper-
ated under our flag as cheaply as they are
under other flags, it would be unneces-
sary for our Government to do more than
to offset the subsidies bounties naval re-
serve retainers, and other methods by
which foreign governments attract capi-
tai into merchant ships built and man
aged by their own people.
1--WE must not imagine that American
capital is dependent upon national legis-
lation in order to make ship-owning pay
We have ample evidence of large Amer
lean investments in foreign built shirs
manned and operated by foreigners in our
foreign trade. However much our people
may have invested in foreign ships they
are unavailable under international war
when at war as naval auxiliaries.
Another thing we should remember.
These very ships and the men employcd
on board of them may be turned against
the United States in the event of our
becoming involved in war with the nation
whose flag they fly
The object of extending government
aid to the uplifting of our merchant ma
rlne is to secure adequate protection for
the nation upon the sea and the mere
fact that the investment has been made
attractive to American capital is an incl
dent of the transaction"
I'VE do not want to see the Isthmian
Canal become merely foreign highway
OF commerce, said the Senator. eve do |
not want our millions expended merely to !
become bounty to foreign shipping. !
II should be an American highway and |
we should so develop our mercantile ma
rine that with the opening of this great
canal our own flag shall predominate at |
the masthead of majority of the ships |
that it accommodates.
The South will be the immediate bene- |
ficiary of that waterway when it is con-
structed.'
In conclusion Senator McLaurln said
What we need in this country today /
IS non sectional patriotism and states