Evening journal., 1906-12-04

leneih ia,s..p .ae 0'ho.a sa5Ject Of &.
Panama caeal 77- vs.
The Atreriras Convention.
The Alsos iras convention, which VIZ
signed by tae United Statc3 as well
by most OF the powers Of Europe, sr
persedes the previous convention G
1850, which was also signed both b
the United States and a majority
the Emopean powers This treat.
confers unou us equal commercial
rights with an European countries and
does not entail a single obligation Of
any kind upon us. and / earnestly hope
it may be speedily ratified.
Sealing.
The destruction of the Pribllof IS
land fur seals 10y pelaric sealing stiu
continues. The herd. which. according
TO the surve y made IN 1874 by dlrec-
tlOn Of the congress. numbered 1900,
600, and which according to the sur
vey of both American and Canadian
commissioners I'm 1891. amounted to
100000 has now been reduced to
about 10000 This result has been
brought about by Canadian and some
other sealing vessels billlng 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 or a number OF Japanese
vessels engaged IN pelagic sealing.
Suitable representations regarding
the Incident have been made TO the
government Of japan, and we are as
sured that al practicable measures will
be taken by that country 20 prevent
any recurrence OF the outrage
We have not relaxed our efforts to
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.
The laws for the protection OF the
seals within the jurisdiction OF the
United States need revision and
amendment,
Second Hague Conferences.
In my last message / advised you
that the emperor OF Russia had taken
the initiative In bringing about a sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under The guidance Of Russia the ar
rangement OF the prellmlnaries for
such conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow, owing TO the
great number of countries TO be con
suited upon every question that has
arisen. IL Is a matter OF satisfaction
that all Of the American republics have
now. for the first time, been invited TO
join In the proposed conference.
army and Navy.
II must ever be kept IN mind that
war IS not merely iustlnable, but Inn
peratlve upon honorable men, upon an
honorable nation, whore peace eau
only be obtained hy the sacrifice OF
conscientious conviction or OF national
welfare
The United States navy Is the surest
guarantor of peace which this country
possesses. 1 do not ask that we con
tinue TO increase our navy ask
merely that It be maintained at It's
present strength. and this can be done
only II we replace the obsolete and out.
worn ships by new and good ones, the
equals Of any aaoat in any navy. nc
stop building ships for one year means
that FOR that year the navy goes bacl
Instead OF forward
In both the army and the navy there
/ is urgent need that everything possible
I should be done 10 maintain the highest
standard for the personnel alike as re
CARDS the officers and the enlisted men
/ do not believe that In any service
there Is a finer body Of enlisted men
and Of junior officers than we have IN
both the army and the navy. including
the marine corps.
West Point and Annapolis already
turn out excellent officers. We do not
need to have these schools made more
scholastic. on the contrary, we should
never lose sight Of the fact that the
aim Of each school is to turn out a
man who shall be above everything
else a fighting man.
There should soon be an increase IN
the number Of men for our coast de
fenses. These men should be OF the
right type and properly trained. and
there should therefore be an increase
Of pay for certain skilled grades, espe
clally IN the coast artillery Money
should be appropriated to permit troops
to be massed in body and exercised in
maneuvers, particularly in marching.