The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-11-23
SHAW SOUNDS NOTE
OF WARNING,
Ee Says That In Case Of War Our
Commerce Would Be Utterly IN
protected - He Speaks Be-
fore NJ. Y. Chamber of
Commerce.

New York. November 1.-THE one hu-.
0red and thirty-hfth annual dinner ~
the chamber Of commerce was held to-
night at Delmonico's. Morris X. Jesup.
president OF the chamber, presiding. with
secretary OF the Treasury Shaw on his
right and Governor Odell on his left
Among the other distinguished guests
present were Postmaster General Henry
c. Payne, Senator William B. Allison,
Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew. Lieutenant
General s. B. NJ Youns. Major General
II. c. Corbin Rear Admiral Frederick
Rodgers. Judge Alton B. Parker. Carl
Schurz, Whitelaw Reid. Bishop Henry
C. Potter, Bishop William Crosswell
Doans and St Clair Mckelway.
Lists of Toasts.
Tho list of toasts was as follows;
1.-THE President-His Majesty Edward
VII" "Our Merchant Marine response by
Hon. Leslie NJ Shaw. secretary OF the
treasury; 1.-THE Senate Of the United
States" response by the Hon. William
H. Allison: The Army" response ny
Lieutenant General S. b NJ. Young, u.
s. A: 1.-The Navy" response by Rear
Admiral Frederick Rodgers. I. 3 ~;
Capital and Labor" response by the kt'
Rev William G. DOane, ID, bishop o.
Albany; 1.-THE Commercial Imagination,
response by the Rev. Donald Sage Mae
kay, DID,; 'Arbitration as Means tor
the Settlement OF international Disputes.
response by Thomas Barclay, former
president Of the British chamber Of com
MERGE in Paris.
letter from President Roosevelt
praisns the chamber of commerce for
Na act r1
to its influence on the commercial life
Of the nation was read
Sha wFor Subsidies
Secretary Shaw spoke as follows;
1.-THE only unprotected American in
dustry Is IFS merchant marine. An act
of congress approved By George Wash
ington and never repealed, though fire.
quenty assailed, gives the American
ship builder. the American shipwright.
the American ship owner ana the Amer'-
can flag monopoly IN our cOastwiSC
TRACE and we have not only the most
efficient service. but the cheapest coast
wise rates in the world
The secretary continued:
without attempting to give the rea
sons therefor. I content myself with
stating the fact that forty years age
we had only one-fourth as much foreign
commerce to transport we have now
vet We actually carried IN American bot
toms forty years ago three times As much
foreign commerce as We carry today
These conditions may be satisfactory to
you. They seem to be satisfactory to
many. But they are not satisfactory to
mo.
II am not ignorant of the argument
that if foreign countries are willing to
subsidize ships to carry our freight. It
inures to our advantage. This mighT
he n sufficient excuse for our supine
Indifference II there were no other CON
our freight across the Atlantic ocean
in times OF peace. Unfortunately how
ever. there are many other and weghtier
considerations
Our Commerce in War.
.'If war were to be called between an7
two Of the great powers OF Europe our
foreign commerce would be not only help
less but hopeless.
LAS certain as the world revoves the
time will come when our people viii
give more heed to securing a respectable
share OF the trade of South American
republics. South Africa, the islands south
OF the equator and the countries washed
by the Pacific ocean.
Il am NOT contending for ship subsidies
If any more feasible course can be de-
vised But II ship subsidies viii insure
US a merchant marine then I am for
ship subsidies. IF some other measure
will insure a merchant marine then
am for some other measure. II several
measures combined will insure a Iner-
chant marine. then l am for all such
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