The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-16

upon American ships, as we would be compelled to do in time of war, place fifty thousand troops in the Philippines within a year. Japan can carry two hundred thousand men at one time. Of what use is our navy. anyhow. ex- cept for dress parade"
 But MT. Hill represented very clearly the analogy between a ship subsidy and a protective tariff, the one being a subsidy paid indirectly by the people and the other a subsidy paid directly by the government.
 we protect our manufacturing in- terests, and likewise the American working man. by putting tariff on foreign importations. equalling the difference in cost of production at home and abroad. Why should the same principle not be applied to ship building? Why should the manufac- turer of fabrics, the builder of bridges. the producer of cutlery, be protected against unequal competition with Eur ope, and the ship builder be neglected? If other nations find it necessary to subsidize their ships in order to fnain- tain their interests upon the high seas, why should our country, with it's vast resources, it's immeasurable industrial activities. and it's incomparable out puts from the field, the flock, the fae- tory and the forest, refuse to protect it's gigantic commercial interests by granting such subsidies as shall make possible the building of American ships by American Workingmen and the control of these ships by American crews"
 He said that our navy was in- yincible in time of peace and would be invisible in time of war. There were a few quiet groans emitted ;lt this statement.
 The speaker appeared to be con- sistently inconsistent For instance he lauded the policy of g. high tariff, triumphantly tailed Taft, glorified Mckinley and Roosevelt, and then such great men in charge of the des tinies of the country we had so dc teriorated in the matter of merchant marine that we are at the mercy of almost any old squatter sovereignity lying loose on the globe. Certainly if this country is as poorly off as pr Hill says we are in preparedness fO1 armed conflict, then his charge is 3 terrible indictment of Republican sad ministration for since the distinegra- ton of our merchant marine first be- gun. to show itself. the country has been almost continuously in the bands of the Republicans.
 The speaker said that the Humph- rey bill now before congress had the endorsement of Taft and on motion of MT. Webster of the Bridgeport Brass Company the Manufacturers association of this city voted to urge congress and the senate to pass the measure.
 Dr. HAl proved energetic and force full. He has striking personality and would make bully stump orator especially if Taft was running. Rev. E. J. Craft, rector of Chris church, was heard briefly much t , the regret of most of the guests fol Dr. Craft not only excels as a public speaker, but invariably illuminate' any subject which he designs to dis
 cuss. At the opening of the banque he invoked the blessing.
 Interspersed between courses were bits of choral work led by Loren Del bridge which served to entertain tn. diners. The attendance was large ape ! the banquet passed off in a manner that left little to be desired. It wa also over. in very good season. l Naturally there was some aisap 1 nointment at the absence of MT. Lit tlefield, but it was unavoidable. Among the special guests were Rev pr. Hill, Rev. Dr. Craft Mayor Buck | ingham, Secretary of State Rogers Postmaster Marigold. Sheriff Hawley Loren Delbridge. F. w Bolande, Simor Lake, Henry B. Sergeant, New Haven A. c. Wheeler, Norwalk, David H
 Brown. Hartford, Thomas M. Thomas New York and B. T. Bailey, Nev ! York