Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-11
NOTABLE MEN
At Annual Dinner of Boston
{ Merchants Association.
Senators Daniel and Quarles and Rep.
Mccall Among Speakers.
Gov. Cummings Of Iowa Called Home
by illness in Family.

-
Boston, Dec. 10.--Although the annual
dinner of the Boston Merchants Asso-
citation at the Hotel Somerset, tonight,
was marked by the absence of Gov.
Albert B. Cummings of Iowa, who was
to be the chief speaker of the occasion,
but who was called home on account of
illness in his family, the banquet was
still one of the most notable in the his
tory of the association. The distin-
guished guests of the evening, included
United States Senators John w. Daniel
of Lynchburg, Va; and Joseph ".
Quarles of Wisconsin, together with
Congressman Samuel w. Mccall of
Massachusetts,: President Charles S.
Mellen of the New York, New Haven
& Hartford Railroad; Mayor Patrick
A. Collins of Boston and others.
The post-pranGial exercises were
opened by President Amory A. Law
renee of the association, who presided.
Although Gov. Cummings was not
present, his address was read by Hon.
Charles 5. Ha;nlin. The keynote of
Gov. Cummings address was Reel
procity With Canada" and the reading
was followed by applause.
The first speaker Of the evening was
Mayor Patrick A. Collins. who extend
ed q welcome to the association and it's
guests on behalf of the city of Boston.
The POSTMASTER then called upon
Senator Daniel, whose subject was
1.-THE Unities Of the Union"
Senator Daniel dwelt in general
way upon the harmonious conditions
between the Northern and Southern
states. and passing to the negro ques-
ton Senator Daniel pointed out that
although the North and South We're in
unity there was one subject on which
they were divided, the color question.
He said:
You have never seen slavery from
the standpoint of some of US. If you
destroy slavery and abolish it what
are you going to do with the corpse
The American people have never had a
problem to deal with, for which their
courage and skill were insufficient"
Senator Daniel suggested that if the
South were permitted to settle the
question he believed they could do it
Charles S. Hamlin was then called
upon to read the address of Gov. Cum
mings. In his paper the governor laid
down two propositions; that he be-
lieved profoundly in a system of pro-
tective duties on imports as distin-
guished from a system of duties for
revenue only, and that he believed that
a system Of protective duties when de-
liberately adjusted ought not to BIZ
changed either directly by revision OF
indirectly through reciprocal trade ar.
NJ re ~, licr1,t tp;1-; tot
He argued, however at length in be.
half of reciprocity with Canada.
President Mellon was the next speak.
err. His remarks were largely upor
railroad matters.
The succeeding speaker was Con.
gresham Mccall, who. like Gov Cum
minis. favored reciprocity with Canada
Senator Joseph V. Quarles of Wiscon.
sin, whose topic was "Chamberlain's
Revolution" said in part:
From the American standpoint this
British agitation is significant, not Sc
much because it threatens tariff walls
around the islands as because it prom
Uses the reorganization and regenera.
ton of Colonial policy. View from this
distance it would appear that Mr.
Chamberlain seems to have overlooked
the fact that free trade between the
states and unrestricted competition al
home are quite as distinctive and eS-
sential elements of our policy as dis
elimination against foreign trade i'm.
ports.
HE seems to have involved his
scheme with a complicated system OF
preferential duties between the colo
MES and the mother country. and be-
tween the colonists themselves. Such
an experiment cannot be justified by
American experience whatever else may
be said in it's favor.
I'VE have no occasion to be despon-
dent over the outlook. We still have
the American market. which no for
eiyn legislation can imperil.
american craftsmanship will open
up the markets of the Far East The
first great step will soon be taken when
we ratify the treaty with Panama fol
n canal across the isthmus which will
make New York and Boston neighborS
Of Hong Kong.
"The infant republic has sprung in
to being animated by holy inspiration
to facilitate the great project of civiliz-
alton for which the world has been
waiting so long. This is the first pro-
gressive sign that Central America has
given during the memory of man.
1T stands out in bold relief against
the background of bloodshed intrigue
and blackmail that have characterized
the regime of Bogota. What wonder
the new republic was promptly recoS-
nized and warmly welcomed by the ma
$sopo ~ tho Garth