Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-26
BANKERS FAVOR
PACIFIC FLEET
WOULD GUARD INTERESTS OF
COUNTRY
BUSINESS MEN GIVE VIEWS ON
SUBJECT
Maintenance of Strong Naval Force
Would Not Imply Milltarism'
Say Leaders in Finan-
clsl World

Los Angeles bankers interviewed lol
The Herald were unanimously anu
strongly of opinion that banking Dusi-
ness and commercial interests on the
Pacific coast demand that q strong per-
manent fleet should be stationed IN IA
cific waters. Like other business men
who have expressed their views on this
subject for publication in The Herald,
the bankers said a strong Pacifie tieet
would not indicate a purpose OF ag-
eression and would not imply militar-
ism. hut would be the guardian of the
interests of the United States, Whlcn
on Pacific coasts in America, ASIA ana
Australasia would increase constantly IN
importance until at last they Will lar
outweigh those of the Atlantic coasts.
II Pacific trade grows in proportion to
the increasing civilization and CONNER
cia1 approachability of Pacific nations,
before many years it will exceed the
Atlantic trade. The possibilities IN
Asiatic markets for American goods
are incalculable; but in order to pro-
mote trade and commerce there must
he safe trading routes, and trading
routes cannot be safe unless they are
guarded by patrolling warships. More
over. for coast defense fleet is neces-
sary. -
AS Mr.. Hellman said, this coast would
be the principal place of activity in
case of disturbance. Mr.. Botsford aptly
summed up the whole matter by say
ing: 1.-THE Pacific coast is entitled to
its share of protection" Since our
leading citizens are unanimously OF
opinion that q permanent Pacific fleet
is a. necessity 1t is probable that
Washington will recognize this neces-
sity and respond to 1t.
The following expressions of opinion
were obtained from bankers:
w. A. Bonynge, president CONNER
cial National bank-The Pacific coast
is entitled to its share of protection,
especially under the existing circum-
stances. We should have a sufficient
navy here in case of emergency at
home and to safeguard our eastern
possessions.
Should Be Protected
M. S. Hellman, vice president Secur-
ity Savings bank-This coast ought to
be protected. There should be sta
toned here sufficient number of ves-
sells in case something of a hostile ma
ture matorialized. Property owners
and citizens on the western coast of the
United States are entitled to part OF
the protection of the navy. The Pa
cific coast should not be left open to
non-protection any more than the At
lantic coast. In case of any distur-
bance at this time this coast would be
the principal place of activity. The
presence of a strong fleet here would
give us aided prestige in the east and
keep hostile countries at distance.
g. E. Bittinger vice president First
National bank-I believe in the char
acter of a large navy. Such is essential
to the preservation of peace with the
nations And in the establishment of
a large navy all parts of the United
States should be considered. The Pa
cific coast is entitled to its full share.
A large and permanent fleet should be
maintained here.
Should Establish Fleet
Marco H. Hellman, vice president
Merchants National bank-A commun-
ity so large as Southern California
ought to be great enough to warrant
the permanent establishment of large
fleet for the protection of not only local
interests, but those of the entire coun-
try which center here. In time of peace
there is no question but that the pres
ence of a large and powerful fleet in
these waters would greatly increase
business and commerce of our COM
munity and ports.
w. d. Woolwine, vice president Ma
tiona1 Bank of California; large navy
should be maintained on the Pacific
coast. Our increasing trade with the
far east would receive a Strengthening
impulse were a permanent fleet sta
toned in these waters. The protection
such fleet would afford would insure
us against hostile countries in case of
trouble.
tional bank-We of the Pacific coast
are entitled to our share of protection
and a large fleet should be stationed
here. Such would not only strengthen
business, but would increase our pres
tige abroad.
w. H. Holiday, president Merchants
National bank-There is no question
but that large fleet ought to be main
tanned on the Pacific coast. The Pa
cific coast is entitled to it's share of
protection and I earnestly hope that
our wish in this matter will be graf
ified.
Entitled to Protection
w. F. Botsford, president American
Savings bank-The Pacific coast is en-
titled to it's share of protection and
am heartily in favor of having a large
fleet maintained here. 1t would be of
vast benefit to business and would give
us additional prestige among other ma
tions.
w. D. Longyear, cashier Security
Savings bank-We should have a large
navy and the Pacific coast is entitled
to it's share along with the Atlantic
coast. 1 favor the maintainance here
of a strong fleet.
John A. Pirtle, president Bank of Los
Angeles-It is. necessary to the welfare
of the entire nation that a large and
powerful fleet be established perma-
nently on the Pacific coast Such would
strengthen business and commerce and
the prestige it would afford would keep
at a distance any hostile advance upon
these shores in the event of trouble
with other nations