Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-04
SAYS WEST MUST
BE INDEPENDENT
Governor Johnson of Minnesota Would
Drop Lead of the
East.
NOT GETTING DUE RECOGNITION
Should Assert Its Rights in Halls Of
Congress.
FURNISHES MUCH COMMERCE
FURNISHES MUCH COMMERCE
Presidential Candidate Condemns
Protection Tariff System.
BUST OF J. ]. HILL UNVEILED
Minnesota day mt seattle Exposition
f. Celebrated with Ceremony,
Governor BEING Orator
of Occasion.

SEATTLE. Wash. Aug. SIT is time
that the west threw off the shackles Of
the east l would preach no sectional
divisions and no sectional strifes; but Min
nesota and Washington and the states be-
tween them with those to the south Of us
should arise in their might and claim for
themselves that fair share Of influence in
the halls of congress and in the admin
istration Of national affairs to which they
are entitled by every law of common
sense as well as of political economy"
This was the declaration of Governor
John A. Johnson in his address at the
Minnesota day celebration at the Seattle
exposition today.
I'VE as an integral part Of the American
people should cast our influence and our
votes not only TO advance the material in
terest of our own particular section, but
we should be broad enough and big
enough to labor for the common good of
our country" said the governor.
Hold Balance of Powers.
we have in the states west of the
Mississippi the undoubted balance of
power no matter under what name the
national administration at Washington
exists. In the years that have passed our
population and our material wealth have
not enjoyed that representation to which
they are entitled, and Furthermore our
leaders have been content to follow in no
small measure the leadership of men who
represent relatively smaller constituencies
and smaller commonwealths."
The speaker declared that the call of the
west among other things is the call for
patriotism and progress for emancipation
from every form OF old world and new
world caste and privilege from the
tyranny of wealth and birth and alike
from the dominion of the trust and politi-
cal machine.
West as Natural Factor.
Not only in foreign commerce. but in
the progress of American shipping, is the
west a prime factor In national develop
ment' said he Incidentally fifty years of
national folly in the enactment of laws
and high protective tariffs have crippled
American shipping until over 80 per cent
Of our Atlantic commerce is carried in
foreign bottoms Notwithstanding this
half century of maritime shame. the
United States flag floats today over a
merchant marine of about 900
registered steam tonnage. which carries
to the markets Of the world 200 900 600 tons
Of American products. But on what
waters float the colors Of this merchant
marine and what freight do these Amer
lean ships carry? One-half of this vessel
tonnage is on the Great Lakes, while the
Pacific coast, the Great Lakes and the
Mississippi combined boast nearly 70 per
cent OF the total. And the freight which
1t carries consists of the great staple
! productions Of the west on their way to
the great eastern markets--the products of
that great army Of western yeomen de
mand no fostering hand Of government
and ask only for that justice and freedom
to which they are entitled by natural
| right under the guaranty Of our constitu-
! ton and our flag"
! Unveil Bust of Hill.
Minnesota celebrated her day at the
Alaska Y Yukon-Pacific exposition by un-
yelling bronze bust of her most dis
| tingulshed citizen, James ]. Hill, the rail
road builder. Governor Johnson loosed the
cord that bound the flags Of Japan, Great
Britain and the United States about the
monument