New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
FAIRBANKS OPTIMISTIC
Talks to Cotton Men-ET-SenatOr
McLaur3n Also Speaks.

Philadelphia. May 1s-vice-P President Fairbanks
and ex-senator John l.. McLaurin. of South Caro-
Ina, spoke here tonight at the banquet of the
American Cotton Manufacturers Association, at
the Bellevue Stratford Hotel Both speakers dis
cussed the affairs and prospects of the South, but
each strayed far enough away from his stated
subject to touch upon the great problems Of the
day.
After congratulatng the association upon the
success of the convention and exhibit Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks said:
1aeTe never was an hour in our history when
tt had more cause to be optimistic than
dustrias erd ~ osttltl9 is louIu "a All IN IN
i ni,,aS ana IN an sections of the republic The
nqls!ry In which you gentlemen are engaged is
perity which is abroad in the land The dominant
GfsIe IS Of course, 10 Increase it. If possible, and
In the last ten years we have greatly increased
products, our domestic trade and foreign COM
merce have reached gigantic proportions, Each
end the end is not vet if we shall exercise sound
true sa M RsTe s d9 RSI 6n@ qS to G
more more OF our products than we purchased abroad
China afords inviting field for the product of
your mhls. Your share in It is nov comparatively
small but in good time your exports to that coun-
nv VII undoubtedly be largely increased. Both
for many of the, products Of our country. Both
are worthy Of our utmost consideration.
. MI. Blaine with clear vision the possibill-
ties for the extension Of our trade in South Amer
tion Of the country, and Secretary Root has done
a t alStinct public service in again bringing the
The opportunities which we have too long neglect
ed European countries have cultivated to the ut
TJ Seotn en- market, which affords so inviting
There is a gratifying Improvement in the relations
are coming more and more 10 Understand each
other and we'll is this so. They are coming more
their interests mutual and that each has rights
which must be regarded with generous and toll
Equality of treatment on the part Of those who
essentially In harmony WITH the spirit of Xmerican
institutions We have resolved that neither open
are engaged in transportation service. In the last
lew lev years we have taken decided step forward.
ana we SHAH not be SO blind 10 our true interests
as 70 take a step backward In the overthrow of
who were entitled to enjoy absolute e9uaity tthoss
rights which have been gradually denied them.
Ex-senator McIaurin said in part
our Our weakness. upon the sea is the one great
Slips ana trained seamen our navy lacks an indis-
American products must he carried abroad in
American ships manned ny American seamen. Our
petltors. If they subsidizs their ships then we
must adopt protective measures for the encourage
ment OF ours. For my part, | would rather pay
small tribute to American ship owners than 70 he
PEELED to pay him such tribute he may exact.
Speaking of the future Of the South. Mr. Nc
Laurin said:
", Within the next half century the South viii en-
she now does in the production Of raw cotton
I9en, instead Of 10 cents, we will draw from the
for the finished article, making the South rich be-
yond our widest dreams.
Takins w the public problem OF the day. Mr.
NicIaurin said:
The great issues in this country do not lie be-
tween the platforms Of the two great political
parties; the real divisions are the relations Of
labor and capital and the monopoly Of public fran
Cllis"s for private gain. on one side stand the
trusts. huge. grim and unreleutiuE in their greed
the other side stands organized labor fierce,
termined and sociausti0
Theodore Roosevelt with hts big stick" r. doing
this country service not second to any President
I4 py led oh
on one side the rapaClouS greed Of capital and
the other the brutal violence Of organized labor
/ have been patiently waiting L. hear the voice
or the Great tommOncT' response
gent invitation Of the eloquent Georgian Repub-
lcau institutions cannot live with plutocracy on
enc side and socialism on the other, and n Will
take AZ least four more years with big stick 10
restore the equilibrium.
The present wonderful prosperity OF this country
Is. In my opinion, due more 10 the great courage
and sagacity Of Grover Cleveland than any other
man.. He Saw in 1892 that our wheat and cotton
would turn the balance OF trade IN favor. and
by forcing the adoption OF the gold standard trans
f"rrcd the centre Of the financial world from the
banks Of the Thames To the banks Of the Hudson.
In closing Mr.. McLaurIn paid the following trib-
ute TO Nice-Pyesident Fairbanks:
This association has the honor to have its dis
and most ardent supporters Of Mr.. Mckinley in the
presence OF the Vice President of the United
States capable not only Of welding big stick
but with all the sweetness OF disposition which
rendered Mr.. Mckinley OF the best beloved
Presidents that ever occupied tho White House.