Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-11
Value of Strong Merchant
Marine Pointed Out
by Shaw
TO AMERICAN BANKERS
Insists He is Not Advocating
Subsidy but Points Out
No Methods.

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE 3lst an
nual convention of the American Bank
ers' association opened here today with
over 1000 members present During
the welcoming addresses and responses
the mention of President Rooseve:t's
name as signifying civic honesty was
greeted with hearty applause.
The convention enthusiastically
adopted resolutions thanking Roosc-
welt for his action in bringing about
peace between Russia and Japan.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw then
delivered an address.
Argues for Merchant Marine.
Secretary Shaw's address was an
elaborate argument for the strengthen
ing of the American merchant marine.
In the course of it he said:
The time is coming. gentlemen
with our increasing population more
largely urban than ever. with factories
multiplying more rapidly than farms,
with limitless manufacturing re-
sources. with matchless aptitude for
production-when the United States
will need new and important markets.
The world may come to us in its own
ships for the products of our farms
and the raw products of our mines. but
ii will not come in its own ships for
the finished products of our factories.
The time is coming when we will need
International bankers and internation-
al merchants and an International mer.
chant marine
Not Popular Theme.
Il am well aware that this is not
supposed to be a popular theme. but
did not accept your courteous invita-
tion for the purpose of discussing sub
jects on which all good men agree.
accepted for the purpose of bringing
to your consideration questions which
public speakers usually avoid, TO the
end that you may think them over. talk
them over by your fiTesides ana in your
places of business. in the hope that we
may some time and as soon as possible
agree upon some course, some policy.
that will restore our flag To her de
served place on the seas and give 10
American enterprise its share of the
carrying trade OF the world
I'VE occupy the best position on the
map. We have the safest and most
form OF money in the world
We speak the language of commerce.
Our farms produce more than the
farms of any other country. Our mines
yield gold literally by the carload, sill
yer by the train load. and there is un-
loaded on the shores of a single com
more iron ore than any
other country produces. Our forests
yield one hundred million feet of lum-
Der for very day of the calendar year.
Our factories turn out more finished
products than all the factories of Great
Britain and Germany combined by
more than three thousand millions ev-
cry twelve months.
Halted at Const.
I'VE transport this matchless pro
duct of farm and factory. forest and
mine. from the interior to the sea at
One-third what similar services cost
anywhere else beneath the skies. We
carry it from point to point along the
coast in better vessels. on quicker time.
and al cheaper rates than others. But
at our coast line we are brought 10 an
abrupt halt Here we are no longer in
dependent our foreign commerce is
four times as large as forty years ago.
one-third as many gross tons as forty
years ago. We have protected ana en-
every interest but our mer-
chant marine. and every protected in
terest has flourished.
we have every facility for
commerce except in
merchants. information
al bankers. and an international
merchant marine. Shall we not have
these? / am not urging ship subsidies.
am speaking of results not of meth
DDS. If we will bur take advantage OF
our opportunities we will send these
products of farm and factory under ev-
cry sky and into every port. and make
our financial centers the clearinghouse
Of at least fraction of the worlds
trade"