New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
FAVOR SHIP SUBSIDY.
MEETING At CLEPELAND.
Seuotors Foraker and Gattinger
4mong the Speakers.

- in the interest OF a ship subsidy
Harvey D. Gouider. president oil Nie -, - 80
, Marine League, under the au7iOe VI -. .bo+
convention was held. expressed the opinion ,hat
tho meeting would not only have gooo ieoui' ~
~ .+.erdanca and enthusiasm shown by tne oele
gates from various parts of the country lnoiod,eu
H.. the general public was taking greater m
ttrest in subject OF the merchant MAJ 4"e On"
a subsidy for seagoins craft
Tho conyentiou was. in a degree. the beginning
or a campaign of education, but the greatest eI-
forts of the league will be directed against Con-
.,r.se this winter IN the interest of the United
States mail subsidy for ocean steamers This the
stlnporters of the subsidy believe will result in
subsidy general shipping interests and build up
an American fleet sailing vessels Il is estimated
the government viii have to appropriate about
S70ae0o0o0 10 place the merchant marine in posi-
tion successfully TO compete with the merchant
marine of other nations where subsidy exists
asserted by the advocates of subsidy that
the measure was only of interest TO the vessel
owners but Of direct benefit TO citizen of the
United States. and that the ships were entitled to
this assistance much the rivers, harbors and
railways.
The days conference closed with dinner this
evening which was general love feast over the
success the league in its work so far. The star
attractions at the banquet were Senators Foraker,
Of Ohio and Garinger. of New Hampshire.
The whole meeting not devoid of polltlcal
phases and this marked especially by the in
terest that clustered about Senator Foraker, VINO
was greeted by his political friends here
The conference called to order by President
Goulder, who introduced Ex-Governor Myron L.
Herrick chairman of the meeting MI HerTick
smoke briefly of the purposes OF the meeting, ana
introduced Lyman H. Treadway, president or the
Cleveland Chamber Of Commerce.
TRUMAN H. NEwBERRY SPEAKS.
Truman H. Newberry Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy was then introduced. He reviewed the his
tory of the American navy and the American ner-
chant marine length He pointed out that Ad-
rniral Dewey in a report prepared in 1885, at the
request Of Senator Gallinger, chairman of the Mer-
chant Marine Commission, stated that on the basis
of a strength of twenty-seven battleshps the
United States navy would require from the mer-
chant marine in a serious war approximately one
hundred vessels, in addition 10 large number of
t,is . Inc vessels especially Of the larger size,
did not exist sufficient numbers in the American
merchant maine
The prese-1 cruise Of the United States battleship
feet, the speaker said, giving sharp and un-
welcome proof this point All Of the coal re-
ouired by the feet, except small portion conveyed
by regular navy coiers. had had 10 be intrusted 10
foreign tramp steamers, because there were not
enough American steamships available even though
President Roosevelt offered to pay American ships
a rate 80 per higher than that given 10
foreign vessels
An important foreign war, the Assistant Secretary
continued would find the United States with a
strong navy, the second navy in the world, very
sravely handicapped by the lack Of oceangoing
merchant feet Of ships, and further handicapped
by the lack of trained and prepared reserve OF
officers and England had at least 100 mer-
chant GOLFERS aggregatng &C., 200 tons. Immediately
available in the event of war, while the other for
eign powers well provided with vessels of
the same class. In closing Mr.. Newberry said:
Never before in the history of American navga-
1ion has the need of merchant marine been SO
real Never before has Its @ true feaJIon to to the
respect cannot long continue without inviting
calamity. Just as in the nascent period of our
government and in every naval conflict TO which
We nav been a party; SO now; IN the task OF pre-.
terreiiance and cooperation.
William s Green Of Massachusetts. chairman Of
the Merchant Marine Committee in the House Of
Representa- tives. followed Mr. Newberry and
spoke IN part follows:
There is grsst sentiment against ship subsidy
CT that district do not understand the question.
his must De q campaign o. education. It is said
that is not so r IS an important business mat
fer; oi utInost importance 10 the people of the
What want is results. ard / do not care where
they come fFom. We will never obtain merchant
g1sIine a until mt the people drive Congress action,
me- d tak 5aaf Tls Ell hep some of our rich
aneMr q aOff sp hot s bud e5shant a marine The
We need government assistance anu 'H0' Is why
The building Of q great merchant marine would
tions are opposed 70 the proposition / do not nT-
deTstand it. Possibly am too innocent ~
HOPES FOR COMMITTEE ACTION
jNp~ 10
his every effort 10 have his committee in Con-
eress report favorabiy on the subsidy and ,vopl5
do all that could be done 10 have the House ac-
favoraby.
II coulby. president OF the Pittsburg Steamship
Company. spoke "A Question of F,,siness .,,5
transportation Lewis Nixon Of New, York enota
st length the details of shipbuilding-tba vast
Undertaking IT entaied the employment # would
give and the amount of money that would be dis
trfeuted among American workmen as a result
tod s-
shipbuiiding. and told what other countries bas
accomplished in this respect
Representative w T. Humphrey of Seattle in
his address why America Is Losing It's pacieo
ana Oriental Trade" frequent applause Fl.
SAID. in part:
wasted our IN talking about trade fo,oHip HIp
tne flag Japan has taught us a valuable lesson
victory over Russia in the late was duo N shin
ia Japan 1n Is Gaining The mastery of the Pa
lsran and l VIII do al within nv power to pre-
To- he prepared " '''u ''Oi'e want my country
II i= my hope that when The great Panama Canal
an American ship built in shpyards and hear
Theodore Roosevelt standing on the Sack IKE nm, 10
der the Stars and Stripes when boat makes the
trip through the canal which will unite our two
oceans
At the close OF tho address OF Congressman
Humphrey fmpromptu discussion was prompted
by Welding Ring and w 3. Craigin the delegates
from the New York Produce Exchange. Both arc
vessel owners. and complained against the federal
provisions prohibiting the purchase foreign yes
sells. They advocated free ships well ship
subsidy. They wanted the law repealed that they
might be able TO purchase boats wherever this
could be done to advantage. President Goulder
said this would solve the problem of the mer-
chant marine. Senator Galnger said free ships
would not help American shipyards, except. pos
sfbly in a repairs. Lewis Nixon also took a
hand in the discussion. and appealed for more