The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-07
WOULD BUILD UP MERCHANT MARINE Americans Tire of Paying Toll
 to Foreigners KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME Men of All Political Parties Are Rep resented in the American Maritime
 League, Which Has Just
 Been Organized.
KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME

MHSnlnRlbn, Aplll Nt'PNNAe>t'f
 erful organization has been effected wilh- in the past week for the purpose of se- curing from Congress at It's next sessloh some action toward the rehabilitation O, the Amepican merchant marine' ana rom the personnel of those interested 1t IS eNl- dent that the project will have much more support next session than ever be- fore. The organization is called the "American Maritime league" and head quarters have been established In thls city. with former Senator John M' Thurston as president. The league has a brief but interesting history.
 When it became evident last session that Congress would pay no immediate attention to the recommendations or the maritime commission because of the con ficting views of the democratic and re- publican members, it being joint com mission of both houses, several business men of New York city conceived the idea that the only method by which ac- tion could be secured from Congress was through an organization of the business men of the country, and the arousins or public sentiment. They reasoned that to be most effective such an organization should be thoroughly non-partisan. should comprise men of all business pursuits and every shade of political opinions and should not favor any certain scheme, either of subsidies, discriminating du- ties, port charges, etc., but should con- tent itself with arousing the public to an acute sense of the humiliating degrada- tion of the merchant marine, and to de- manding of Congress that something be immediately done toward restoring it to its one time eminent and, indeed, domi- nant position.
 Purpose Was General.
 The matter was taken up by core spondence with leading business men, in- cludng merchants, manufacturers and bankers, of Philadelphia, Boston, Chi- cago, Washington, St. Louis and else- where, with the result that hundreds of these became members, and a few days ago the American Maritime league was formally '1aunched" Ex-Senator Thurs ton of Nebraska, having been leading spirit in the movement and long mem Der of the United States Senate, was chosen as president, and an advisory board was selected with one or more rep resentatlves from every state having members of the league, President Roose- welt signified his interest in the organiza- tion by accepting an honorary member ship, and on the advisory board are for mer Secretary of War Elihu Root, Paul Morton. Secretary of the Navy: William H. Moody, Attorney General; William II. Taft, Secretary of War; Thomas F. Walsh, Colorado; former Senator Warner Miller of New York, former Secretary of the Navy Benjamin r. Tracy, and many other equally distinguished law yers, merchants manufacturers and bank CTS. The non partisan character of the league is shown by the fact that with Senator Perkins of California and Secre- tary Taft are serving August Belmont of New York. Governor w. L. Douglas of Massachusetts and Mayor Mcclellan of New York city. while among others on the board are Charles M Schwab M. F. Ingalls, president of the Big Four railroad F. G. Bourne. president the Singer Manufacturing company; President J. c. Schurman of Cornell university, Thomas Dolan of Philadelphia, Governor J. Fremont Hill of Maine. Hon. Timothy l.. Woodruff of New York, Rear Admiral J. G. Walker former chairman of the isthmian canal commission: President William R. Harper of the University of Chicago, former Attorney-General John w. Griggs and Governor A. T. Bliss of Michigan
 Simple Plan of Operation.
 The plan of operation is very simple. It is proposed that the members of the league shall press the subject of build ing up the merchant marine on the at tention of their business associates and on their clubs and commercial organiza- tions. that if may be generally discussed. and that the decadenee of the American shipping may be forcibly brought home to them. magazine will be established in Washington. whose columns will be open to a non-partisan discussion by all members of the league and prior to the assembling of the new Congress meet ings will be held in various parts of the country.
 The communications received at the headquarters of the league show that the business men of the country are thor oughly aroused against the idea that they are to continue paying tribute to foreign ship owners on almost every pound of American freight shipped to foreign port. and that they want the S2J0. .CO0O0O to s300.000.oo0 now going into the pockets Of English, German and French ship owners, kept in this country and paid to American owners and American ship builders. Many expressions of approval have been given by republican and demo-