Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-01

navy, and were a war to come on we
should have to purchase such vessels
from foreign countries, and this might
under the laws governing neutrals be
most difficult.
1.-THE trade between the eastern ports
of the United States and South
America is a most valuable trade, and
now equals something like $250,0000OO;
| but European nations, appreciating the
| growing character of this trade, have
by subsidies and other means of en-
| coura cement so increased the sailings
of large and we'll equipped vessels from
| Europe to the ports of South America
| as visibly to affect the proportion of
| trade which is coming to the United
! States by the very limited service be-
tween New York and South American
ports.
II need not tell you of the inadequacy
of the American shipping marine on
the Pacific coast and the growing power
| for commercial purposes in this regard
| of the empire of Japan. Japan is one
of the most active and generous coun-
tries in the matter of subsidies to its
merchant marine that we have, and the
effect is only too visible in an examina-
| tion of the statistics.
For this reason 1t seems to me that
there is no subject to which congress
can better devote its attention in the
! coming session than the passage of
| bill which shall encourage our mer-
chant marine in such a way as to
establish American lines directly be-
| tween New York and other eastern
ports and South American ports, and
| between our Pacific coast ports and the
orient and the Philippines.
Profit from Malls
I'VE earn profit from our foreign
mails from $4,000, 900 to $8,000,000 a year.
application Of that amount would
| be quite sufficient to put on a Satisfac-
| tory basis two or three oriental lines
and several lines from the east to South
| America.
"Of course we are familiar with the
argument that this would be con-
tributing to private companies out of
the treasury of the United States; but
we are thus contributing in various
ways on similar principles in effect,
both by our protective tariff law, by
our river and harbor bills and by our
reclamation service.
1--WE are not putting money in the
pockets of ship owners. but are Civ
ing them money with which they can
compete for a reasonable profit only
with the merchant marine of the
world.
From my observation, I think the
country is ready now to try such a
law and to witness it's effect in COM
trade of the United States.
eff it is successful, experience will
| show how the policy can best be eX-
panded and enlarged and the Amer
lean commercial flag be made to wave
upon the seas as it did before our
/ civil war.
"It is true that our foreign trade is
great and increasing, and this with
out the merchant marine, but 1t is
| also true that the ownership OF a
merchant marine greatly enhances the
opportunities for extending trade for
the merchants of the country having
| such a merchant marine.
| "There is no part of the country
more interested in the development of
this policy than Seattle, Washington,
and the whole Pacific coast.
with the enormous energy and po-
| tential force that you have developed
in your community here for trade and
business expansion it cannot have es-
caped the foresight of your business
captains that the development of a
merchant marine means the growth of
Seattle into a port of such Importance
that hardly the lively imagination of
her ambitious citizens can compass
/ it."
Badge Pinned on Him
When President Taft and his party
arrived at the auditorium steps this
morning President ]. e. Chilberg
greeted the chief magistrate and
pinned on his coat heavy gold badge
| of his office of honorary president OF
| the exposition.
The president took his place and
the march of the soldiers and the pa
geant of nations was begun.
Following the military came com
| pany of Japanese merchants in nigh
| hats and frock coats. AS they passed
| II 8I1A.y FHroH fhpiT hats
and shouted "Banzai!" three times.
Following the Japanese walked a
group of Chinese merchants in beau
tiful silken robes.
Then came the almost naked Igor
rote villagers with startling erect
Several of Peary's Eskimo guides
carried a banner reading:
"Who found the pole? We helped.
Columbia the beautiful Eskimo girl
born at the Chicago worlds fair, rode
in a dog sledge.
At the close of the parade a COM
pany of United States infantry lined
| the walk leading to the government
building, and the president and party
walked through it rapidly.
Sees Rich Exhibit
In the Alaska building the president
was invited into the cage where more
than 81, ,0O0, 900 worth of Alaska gold Is
exhibited He lifted some of the mug
gets. bigger than his hand, and
seemed much interested.
Near by a miner who was illustrat-
ing placer mining let the president
wash out a pan of gold worth $1,000.
Mr.. Taft remarked that he would go
into mining if he could keep up that
rate.
A section of large spruce tree from
! Ketchikan, Alaska, caught the presi-
! dents eye and he stopped to look at
| the wood. In all of the buildings Wis
tied he took special interest in the
woods.
The forestry building, constructed OF
trees of immense size, filled him with
wonder.
In the Oregon building he asked the
! difference between "Oregon fir" and
puget sound fir" and learned that
the terms were interchangeable.
He admired the myrtle wood OF
Southern Oregon and lifted table Of
/ that wood to learn it's weight
! At the door of the Hawaiian build
ing a native girl tried to throw over
| the presidents neck a lei, or wreath
| of pansies The president restrdliieu
! her. saying:
mo, / shant' wear it. We are not
in Honolulu nowp" and passed the
wreath to an aide.
! The president evidently had seen all
the Philippine exhibit before, for he
did not stay long
! Resumes Sightseeing
At the door of the building the presi-
| don+ rasumed automobile travel, going