Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-18
Noted Men, Meeting in San Fran
cisco, Call on Congress
to Prepare for War
MERCHANT MARINE FAVORED
American Ships for American
HarborS and Protection of
Commerce Advocated
(Associated Press)


hundred delegates gathered from all
points in the Pacific slope states, met
today in this city to attend the Pacific
Coast congress, convened under the in
vitation recently extended by Governor
James N. Gillett.
Prominent men representing great
commercial interests and civic affairs
| in the west were on hand to deliberate
on the questions OF the establishment
of a battleship fleet in Pacific waters
and the restoration of the American
merchant marine.
The roll call showed representatives
from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Ne
vada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and
California.
After an automobile ride through the
city and to surrounding points, during
which an inspection was made of the
sites offered for the Panama-Pacif1c
exposition in 1915, the delegates as
sembled in the convention hall and
were formally welcomed to the city by
Mayor Mccarthy.
Following the mayors speech Gov
ernor Gillett clearly outlined the pur-
poses of the conference, stating that,
besides giving impetus for the estab-
lishment of fleet in the Pacific and
the establishment of a closer CONNER
ing American ships to handle Ameri-
can cargoes, the congress could at this
session more fully discuss the pros
poets and plans for holding the worlds
fair here in 1915 and effect a permanent
organization that would forever prove
beneficial to the states on this side of
the continent
JOSEPH SCOTT A SPEAKER
Joseph Scott, president of the Los
Angeles chamber of commerce, and
Col. d. c. Collier of San Diego spoke
briefly upon the advantages of the
movement undertaken.
| The most important speaker of the
| day was Brig. Gen. Charles E. Morton,
| u. S. A.. retired, who, from his forty
nine years of experience In military
affairs, made a plea for the establish
ment of fleet for the sole protection
of this coast, and dwelt upon the ne
cessity of a mobile army concentrated
along the coast.
Gen. Morton, in part, said: "We as
people, knowing our enormous re-
sources in men and material, think we
are perfectly safe and that we could
resist the attacks of any nation. Per-
haps we could, in time, but it takes
tim. No nation, no combination of ma
tions, will attack us when we are pre-
pared. They will attack only when
they are fully prepared and when they
know that we are not prepared. But
it takes time to prepare.
$50 I say we are not safe If any
nation or combination of nations, I re-
peat. intends to attack us. they will do
it when they are fully prepared and we
are unprepared."
The session was called to order by
Frank b. Anderson, president of the
Merchant Marine league, with C. c.
Heron acting as secretary. Upon the
motion of James Rolph, jr, Governor
Gillett was chosen chairman of the con-
gress. The governor, in the course Of
-''N ~ CALLS FOR ACTION
Nov that the Panama canal is near
ing completion. it seems to me that the
time has arrived for congress to
strengthen bur hands. Unless some
thing is done we shall be greeted by
the spectacle of great waterway,
built at an expense of $400,000,O00, for
the benefit of foreign ships and not
used by American vessels.
"An ambitious nation faces us on the
other side of the Pacific. Shall it be
the flag of the Rising Sun or the Stars
and Stripes that shall float at the
mastheads of the Pacific? Will Japan
carry our mails?
"The Pacific coast is in need of prop
er defense. There must be defense for
the commerce of Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Ia
coma, with their great growing COM
munities and their greater growing
| trade. They are in need of protection,
and it is necessary that they should
get that protection"
A. B. Manley, of Portland, was al
so a speaker.
The following committees were ap-
pointed by Governor Gillett:
Committee on Permanent organiZa-
ton: Robert P. Troy of San Fran
cisco; Senator Frank G.. Newlands. Ne
vada Gen. Charles e. Morton, Seat
tie; Governor elect T. D. Oddie, Ne
vada: Rufus Choate. San Diego; Fred
p. Smith, Portland; Andrew Carrigan,
j. A. McGregor D. e. Skinner, Will
liam H. Martson, San Francisco; Theo-
dore Gier Oakland; w. F. Jensen. Salt
Lake; Homer Lea California; w. H.
Corbett. Portland: Judge J. F. Ellison,
Tacoma.
ANGELENo Is NAMED
Committee on Resolutions: Fred P.
Smith, Portland: Congressman James
McLachlan and Homer Lea, Los Ange-
les; D. e. Skinner, Andrew Carrigan,
r. B. Hale. San Francisco; Fred
Georgeson. Eureka.
Among the prominent delegates were
Rear Admiral T. S. Phelps, Secre-
tary E. A. Mott-Smith, representing
Governor w. F. Frear. of Hawaii,
President BENJAMIN Ide Wheeler Uni
versity of California;: Homer F., Lea,
formerly an officer in the Chinese
army, and a writer upon military af-
fairs: Senator Frank G. Newlandss
Congressman G. A. Bartlett and Gov
ernor-elect T. L. Oddle. of Nevada;
Senator George c. Perkins, of Cali
fornia; Judge e. F.. Colburn and Col.
I. A. Benton, of Utah; w. H. Andrews.
of Albuquerque, delegate in congress
from New Mexico.
Governor M. E. Hay. of Washington,
sent a delegation of 10 prominent men
and like number were in attendance
as the representatives of Acting Gov
] ernor Bowefman. of oregon.