The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

dividends while New England Mills
 closed down, will inevitably make Ala
 bama the first manufacturing State of l the South, if not of the Union, and now
 as the canal approaches achievement, we should lay the foundations for nov ing out to occupy the inheritance laid down for our State, nothing short of leadership in the vast coming markets of the Pacific and the markets of the world.
 Some Suggestions.
 It is not within the scope of this paper to go at any length into the par ticulars of the measures that should be taken. but venture to suggest that while there Is an important field in the State in wise and progressive legisla- ton. yet the greatest field in the awak- ening of our citizens, and then their cooperation for organized effort, which should proceed to organize energetic industrial branches in all the cities and
 every county in the State. These
 branches should then become the me- dum of disseminating knowledge, in- formation on all commercial and in-
 dustrial matters. and then each branch
 while making speciality of its own vicinity, should become the means of enlisting the people and their capital in great united efforts to develop our
 wonderful State. Specifically, may I suggest that as one method of reaching and awakening the people, there should be a united ef- fort on the part of the delegation in Congress to secure our due proportion of rural free delivery service for which we have a greater need than almost | any other State.
 Furthermore, may I suggest similar united action of our delegation to se- cure just appropriation for the opening of our harbor and our rivers, not only | the completion of the work on the War | rior but for the belated work of the Tombigbee. Coosa, Tennessee and other rivers all of which improvement | should be hastened to completion, well l in advance of the canal
 In addition, may I suggest an ener- getic move on the part of capital at hand over cities like Mobile, Bir-
 mingham and Montgomery to take ad- | vantage of the building operations to | supply goodly share of the materials
 for the construction of the canal. l It should be seen, furthermore. that | we should not only furnish the mate rials for the canal construction and for | the future market, but We should con-
 trol their transportation. Therefore. l | suggest a movement to organize a | steamship line in Alabama to start
 modestly with vessels to carry stuff to Colon, while the canal Is building; then | to carry goods to the coast of the eastern Pacific, and finally to all parts of the world, controlling and operating the small craft for immigration, our control of transportation thus growing
 with our growth of production and of materials.
 Shipping in Mobile.
 May I point out that Mobile should
 become ship building centre for this
 and other lines; indeed, for commercial
 and naval vessels of the world. It may
 be pointed out that the field for trans portation should not be limited to the
 water course, but that railroad devel-
 opment should now be systematically taken in hand. In conclusion, ! must be permitted to point that international commerce cannot be separated from international policies. The mighty commerce of the Pacific is now and will become more sought by all the great commercial
 powers, and it is only too true that in international affairs. we are still not emerged from the realm where might reigns. Our rival powers are carrying heavy ornaments, and these armaments are for the purpose of gaining national advantage. If America Is unprepared | to maintain her rights, it is worse than | folly to think that these powers will respect them, and quietly allow us to proceed to capture the markets of the world. Indeed. the Pacific, whose com
 merce We have considered, Is now to | be the mortal battle-ground between the old system of militarism and the new era of industrialism which de- ! mands peace.
 Militarism In form of power Of Eo- rope is now preparing to seize China by force and partition 1t among them selves, this being the real purpose of the present war. The prearranged re- treating policy of Russia and the hue and cry of Chinese disturbance and of | a yellow peril have been successful to turn the sympathy of Europe away from Japan, and cause the continental peoples to stand with their Govern ments on the side of Russia, prepara- | tory to a general plan to move in and | occupy the provinces of China on the | pretext of preventing massacres and
 general uprising that might endanger
 the world, After seizing the provinces, the powers would proceed to absorb the
 commerce, each power absorbing the | commerce of the part 1t had seized, the
 industrial powers being left out. China would then be curtailed in its develop | ment. the might commerce of the Pa cific would be checked and America cut off from the most important of all fields | for her rightful commercial activity.
 Indeed. If militarism succeeds in en-
 trenching itself upon the yellow race
 with its myriads of men upon which
 to draw for industrial or military ar | mics, We shall witness the perpetua-
 ton of the old, harsh systems of war ! fare for centuries yet to come.
 On the other hannd. if peace Is mann
 tatned. and the yellow peoples are pro tected and developed as an open mat
 ket, militarism that diverts so many
 strong men from production pursuits. could not compete on equal terms and
 losing out in this market and grad l ually in other markets would slowly