The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
CANAL CONFERENCE WOULD RESURRECT
 MERCHANT MARINE
Sibley Leads Discussion of Relation of Panama Ga nal to Iron and Steel
 Industry

Atlanta. December 11.-Legislation designed to accomplish the rehabilita-
 tion of the American merchant marine will be sought from Congress by the lsohthern Panama cfnai conference,
 which was formally organized here to-
 day
 In the face of spirited opposition from Frank P. Glass of Birmingham the conference adopted the following resolution at the close of it's first meet ing:
 Whereas, the Panama canal, built by American enterprise and capital. will fall immeasureably short of it's pos sible benefits to American commerce unless American ships exist to use it; therefore be il
 Resolved. by the Southern Panama Canal conference, in session in Atlanta, December 1011, That we respectfully urge that the Congress of the United States formulate and carry into eff feet at the earliest possible moment definite and practical Legislation which will give all necessary and reasonable le encouragement to tie American mer- chant marine and American commerce 1 with foreign commerce; and be 1t fur ther
 Resolved, That the executive com mittee of the Southern Panama Canal conference be, and are hereby instruct ed to transmit this resolution to the President of the United States and the members of Congress and use all oth- CT necessary methods to see that the intent of this resolution is carried into effect by the Congress of the United States"
 MT. Glass objected to the resolution on the ground 1t would put the confer ence on record as advocating a ship subsidy. d proposition founded on the fundamental principle of protection. which he said the people of the United States had rejected
 Samuel c. Douglas of Nashville. who offered the resolution, denied that it carried an Endorsement of ship-sub- 1 sidy
 Say that in the resolution and win withdraw my objection said Mr. Glass;
 Did Not Object to Ship Subsidy MT. Douglas retorted that he did not object to ship subsidy if Congress de- termined such legislation was neces- l sary to bring about the desired end. i What he wanted, he said was some ac- ton by Congress to encourage the i building of Aemrican merchant ships He agreed, however, to modify the or liginal resolution, which read we de- mand and insist" Legislation, so as to l read i've respectfully urge" 1 Earnest speeches m support of the resolutions were made by NJ. E. Treze- want secretary of the New Orleans Progressive union; b. NJ. Stuart of the l Chattanooga Manufacturers' associa- | ton; A. IT. Dadman, secretary of the Navy league; Leland Hume of Nash iville and J. G. Weatherly. secretary of the Brunswick tGa.) chamber of conn merce.
 President w w. Finley of the lSouthern railway. told the conference that he thought 1t unwise to make any fore it had assumed control of the gov ernment. He wanted it understood, however. that he was not opposed to lany movement looking to the upbuild- ling of the merchant marine. Discussion of the iron and steel in- tdustry and the Panama canal" was led lby John w. Sibley Of the Birmingham m ! Chamber of Commerce. r. ]. Watson, l lcommissioner of agriculture for South lcarolina. addressed the conference on Inc benefits to be derived by agricul- lture in the south from the opening of | the canal
 i fThe conference adjourned to meet again on the call of the president.