The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-12-04


reached, embodied In series of reso-
lutlons and proposed conventions, VIII
be laid before You upon the coming OF
the final report OF the American dele
gates.
Panama Trip.
| have Just returned from trip 10
Panama and shall report 10 you ut
length later on the whole subject OF the
Panama canal.
The Algecirss Convention.
The Algecras convention. which was
signed by the United States ms well ms
by most of the powers OF Europe, SUI
persedes the previous convention of
| 1880. which was also signed both by
the United States and majority Of
the European powers. This treaty
confers upon us equal commercial
rights with all European countries and
does not entail single obligation OF
any kind upon ms. and earnestly hope
II may be speedily ratified.
sealing.
The destruction of the Pribllof Is
land fur seals by pelagic sealing still
continues. The herd. which according
to the surve Y made In 1874 by dlrec-
| ton OF the congress, numbered 400
| 600. and which. according to the sur
vey OF both American and Canadian
commissioners In 1891. amounted TO
| 100000. has now been reduced TO
about 10000 This result has been
brought about by Canadian and some
other sealing vessels killing the female
seals while In the water during their
annual pilgrimage 10 and from the
south or In search of food.
The process OF destruction has been
accelerated during recent years by the
appearance OF n number Of japanese
vessels engaged In pelagic sealing.
Suitable representations regarding
the incident have been made 20 the
government OF Japan. and we are as
,ured that all practicable measures VIII
be taken by that country to prevent
any recurrence of the outrage.
We have not relaxed our efforts 10
secure an agreement with Great Brit
ain for adequate protection Of the seal
herd and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are In progress Is
The laws for the protection OF the
seals within the jurisdiction OF the
United States need revision and
amendment.
second Hague Conference.
In my last message | advised yon
hat the emperor OF Russia had taken
The initiative In bringing about n sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance of Russia the ar
rangement OF the prelimlnaries for
such conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow. owing 10 the
great number OF countries TO be con
suited upon every question that has
arisen. II Is n matter OF satisfaction
hat all OF the American republics have
now, for the first time. been Invited 20
Join IN the proposed conference.
Array and Navy.
IL must ever b. kept In mind that
war IL not merely justihable. but i'm
perative upon honorable men. upon an
honorable nation. where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice Of
'onscientious conviction or OF national
welfare.
The United States navy IL the surest
guarantor OF peace which this country
possesses. | do not ask that we con
tinue 10 Increase our navy. ash
merely that II be mai inlnei ~ It's
present strength. aud this can be done
Dnly IL we replace the obsolete and out.
worn ships by new aud good ones the
EQUALS OF any afioat Ia any navy. To
= stop building ships for one year means
that for that year the navy goes back
instead OF forward.
In both the army and the navy there
IS urgent need that everything possible
should be d0le 60 maintain the highest
standard for the personnel alike AS re.
cards the officers and the enlisted men.
do not telleve that In any service
there IL n inner body OF enlisted men
and OF junior officers than we have In
both the army and the navy. including
The marine corps.
West Point aud Annapolis already
.urn out excellent officers. We do not
aeed 10 have these schools made more
scholastic. ON the contrary. we should
never lose sight OF the fact that the
aim of each school IL to turn out n
man who shall be above everything
Else lighting man.
There should soon be an increase In
he number OF men for our coast de
lenses These men should be OF tho
light type and properly trained, and
here should therefore he an increase
II pay for certain skilled grades. espe
sally In the coast artillery. Money
should be appropriated TO permit troops
to be massed IN body and exercised IN
naneuyers. particularly In marching.
When a man makes n fool of him
| calf ho ,,eaa ehpan material