The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-03
AMERICAN MARITIME LEAGUE.
FORMED TO AID IN UPBUIL DING
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.

| President Roosevelt Accepts Honorary
Membership. and on the Advisory Board
Are Three Members or His Cabinet
and EIlhu Root and Mayor Mcclellan.
wAsHuSoroN, April "A powerful organi-
sation has been effected within the past
week for the purpose Of securing from
Congress at its next session some action
toward the rehabilitation OF the American
merchant marine, and from the personnel
Of those interested It Is evident that the
project will have much more support next
session than ever before. The organization
is called the American Maritime League,
and headquarters have been established in
this city, with former Senator John NJ.
| Thurston as presideat.
The league has a brief but interesting
! history. When II became evident last
session that Congress would pay no i'm
| mediate attention to the recommend
tions Of the Maritime Commission because
Of the conflicting views Of the Democratic
and the Republican members composing
/ the Joint committee Of both houses several
business men Of New York city conceived
the idea that the only method by which
action could be secured from Congress
vas through an organization Of the business
men Of the country 70 arouse public senu-
msnt. Their idea was that to be most
effective such an organization should be
thoroughly non-partisan and should COM
prise men Of all business pursuits and every
shade Of political opinion, and should not
favor any particular scheme either Of sub
sidies, discrimina ting duties OF port charges,
but should content itself with arousing the
public to an acute sense Of the humiliating
condition OF the merchant marine and
demand Of Congress that something be
Immediately done toward restoring il 10
it's one-time dominant position.
The matter was taken up by correspond
ence 18th leading business men. including
merchants manufacturers and bankers Of
Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Washington.
81. Louis and elsewhere. W it'll the result
that hundreds Of these became members
and few days ago the American Maritime
League was formally launched. Mr.. Thurs
ton, having been a leading spirit in the
movement and long member Of the United
States Senate was chosen president, and
an advisory board was selected with one
OF more REPRESENTATIVES from every State
having members Of the league.
President Roosevelt showed his interest
by accepting an honorary membership,
and on the advisory board are former
Secretary Of War ElihI Root; Paul Morton,
Secretary Of the Navy: William h Moody,
Attorney General: William n Taft, Secre-
tary Of War; Tomas r. Walsh Of Colorado,
former Senator Warner Miller Of New York,
former Secretary Of the Navy Benjamin +:
Tracy and many other equally distinguished
lawyers, merchants, manufacturers and
bankers.
Inc non-partisan character Of the league
is shown by the fact that with Senator
Perkins Of California and Secretary Taft
are serving August Belmont Of New York,
Gov. W. l.. Douglas Of Massachusetts, and
Mayor Mcclellan Of New York CITY. while
among others on the board are Charles NJ.
SohWab, NJ. f. ingalls, president Of the
Big Four Railroad; I. G. Bourne, president
Of the Singer Manufacturing Company;
President J. q. Schurmsn Of Cornell Uni
versity, Thomas Dolan of Philadelphia,
Gov. J. Fremont Hill Of Maine, Timothy l..
Woodruff Of New J ork, Rear Admiral J. G.
Walker, President William r. Harper Of the
University Of Chicago, former Attorney
General John ". Gnggs and Gov. A. i.
Bliss Of Michigan.
The plan Of operation is very simple.
II is proposed that the members OF the
league shall press the subject Of building
up the merchant marine upon the stten-
ton OF their business associates and their
clubs and commercial organizations, that
II NAV be generally discussed and that the
decadence OF American shipping may be
forc bly, brought home 20 them. A maya
zine will be established In Washington.
whose columns will be open TO non-partisan
discussion by all members Of the league.
and prior to the assembling Of the new Con-
gress meetings 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 thoroughly
aroused against the idea that they are 20
continue paying tribute TO foreign ship
owners on almost every pound Of American
freight shipped 70 a foreign port, and that
thew want the $3.50 900 900 10 $500 900 900 now
going into the pockets Of English. German
and French shipowners kept in this country
and paid 10 American owners and American
shipbuilders. Many expressions OF APP
proval have been given by Republican and