Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-23
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI MEET
COMING To CONCLUSION

gress. All spoke on subjects relating
more or less directly to the increasing
! of the commercial business of the
country.
Mr.. Bryan was appointed to head a
committee of eX-presidents of the con-
gress to escort Secretary Shaw to the
platform and when these two distin-
guished public men led the way TO the
Tostrum there was great applause.
spoke for wider Market.
Secretary Shaw, who spoke particu-
larly for a wider foreign market for
American goods, made this declara-
ton:
IF this country ever develops inter
national merchants it will accomplish
it by granting them encouragement,
not alone by dredging harbors and
deepening channels. but by insuring
them a merchant marine in which to
carry, under the most favorable terms,
the products of our farms. our mines,
our forests, and our factories"
Root Went Further.
Secretary Shaw continued:
Secretary Root has gone a step fur
ther than | propose To go in favor of
merchant marine. He commits himself
to the ship subsidy idea. | do not say
that | am not in favor of a ship sub
sidy, but l will say that l am in favor
of anything that will secure a mer-
chant marine for the United States
Mr.. Bryan. whose subject principally
concerned the commercial interests of
the Mississippi valley region. was the
sole speaker at the evening session.
Six Thousand Hear Bryqn.
The crowd that greeted Mr.. Bryan
was the largest of the congress, num-
bering 5000 persons. He was intro
duced by David r. Francis, president
of the congress.
Mr.. Bryan began his address by pre-
senting the following resolution. which |
he asked be considered by the resolu-
tions committee of the congress at to-
session:
Resolved, That this congress hearth !
ly endorse the resolutions unanimously /
adopted by the Interparliamentary |
union at its London session last July, |
in favor of the submission of all inter
national questions to an imperial court |
1r commission for investigation before
any declaration of war or commence
nent of hostilities."
He pleaded earnestly for the adop-
ion of the resolution. hoping, he said
he congress would thus place itself on
ecord as favoring peace.
Speaking of the South American
rade expansion possibilities as set
orth by Secretary Root. he said he did
lot agree with Mr.. Root as to the moth
IDS suggested. He did not, he said, be-
ieye in subsidies.
Bryan and the Trusts.
Mr.. Bryan then read a second resolu-
ion affecting trusts, which also, he
aid, he wished might be adopted by
he commercial congress at its business
ession today.
This resolution, which Mr. Bryan said
orered in a general way his hopes re-
.arding trust legislation, follows:
Resolved. That this congress is I'M
lterably opposed to private mOnopolies,
nd, believing them indefensible and
favors the enforcement
f existing laws as may be necessary
o protect industry from the menace
ffered by the trusts"
Mr.. Bryan said that he was glad that
t last all people finally had come to
e opposed to the giving and receiving
f rebates.
Many Subjects Debated.
Some of the subjects upon which adj '
resses and discussions were made at I
he morning and afternoon sessions {
'eTe river and levee betterment, lower I
reight rates, especially in the west; i
ikes to the gulf water transportation. |
ne necessity of national department.
mines and mining, the needs of the {
We stock interests of the southwest.