The Washington herald., 1912-02-24
PRESIDENT URGES
MORE War SHIPS

/ II ~
Continued from Page One.
II war were to come. and get those things
that would be needed TO make theih
useful
ave have built the Panama Canal We
have built IT for two ressons-we have
built 1t in order that we may make a
great avenue Of commerce for the world,
and In order that the east and west
coasts Of our country may be near to-
gether and we may make one navy serve
them both.
Keep Up Construction.
"At present, II we were to follow the
logic OF the situation, we ought to have
| two navies. The construction Of the
Panama Canal viii double the efficiency
OF the navy-we have. When the canal is
well constructed. so that we can see that
the navy can go through without trouble.
then we can confer with those gentlemen
who are in favor Of economy in the navy
and see how far we can dispense with
the present expenditures to sustain that
power. But for the present we ought to
keep up our construction, because battle
ships get out of style, not quite as rap
/ idly as automobiles, but still they do
pass away and become ancient, certainly
IN decade: II not a decade. at least In
decade and a half. And in order TO
keep up with the other nations. don't
\ think that two battle ships Is any too
great an allowance for each year. I
am partly responsible for the expendi-
tures of the government. and I am en-
tirely willing to meet that responsibility
by signing a blll for two more battle
ships"
President Taft was preceded by Rep
lresentative Sherley, who said:
/ I'm the nine years 1 have been IN the
House have never known a naval ap-
propriation bill to be a party question.
The real and true difficulty which has
Iconfronted US has been the lack Of
real. definite naval programme. We all
want an efficient navy. but such pro-
gramme never has been submitted to
Congress.
Defends Congregational Action. --
II wish also to state that criticism of
Congress will avail little as there Is not
man in the House or Senate who is not
an American and who wants to cripple
our navy
Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright de-
livered an address asking the league TO
back up Secretary Meyer in his plan to
build Up the navy and reform its admin
istration.
The peace meeting at Memorial Con-
/ tinental Hall terminated the leagues
/ proceedings for the day. and the evening
was devoted to social pleasures. The
morning session at he New Willard
opened with a brief business meeting. and
closed with a symposium on Panama
| Canal tolls" Sandwiched between these
sessions was an open meeting, at which
/ addresses were delivered by Representa-
tive Sulzer. of New York. and Representa-
tive Humphrey. of Washington.
| Representative Humphrey harshly criti-
| cised Representative Sulzer for making
the statement that il a ship-subsidy bill
i Is passed II cannot remain on the statute
books. He also criticised Delegate
! Francis 3. Allen for saying subsidies
have become a scandal.
| Speaking on "The merchant marine"
| Representative Sulzer said he Is opposed
to ship subsidy. He declared for prefer
entail duties in favor of American ships
and against ships of foreign nations.
Want Merchant Marine.
The following resolution, which created
number Of heated discussions in its
preparation and was completed as a
sort Of compromise to satisfy all the fac
tions REPRESENTED. was adopted:
| Whereas the building of the Panama
Canal was undertaken by the people Of
the United States in pursuance of
great national policy, among other
things, OF providing for the national de-
| fense, OF opening up the shortest pos
sibie water route between the respective
coasts of the United States and foreign
countries, and of encouraging the up
building of our merchant marine. which
has practically disappeared from the
| foreign trade, be 1t
| Resolved. That although It is the
sense of this meeting that the question
of tolls through the Panama Canal Is
| one beyond the scope of this leagues
present activities. yet be it
| Further resolved That as We believe
the wartime efficiency. Of our navy will
| depend, in part. on the existence OF a
| feet Of merchant vessels available as
\ naval auxiliaries. we heartily approve of
any legislation directly or indirectly aid
ing in building up the American mer-
chant marine. and we believe that IL
Congress. in its wisdom. deems IL ad-
visable to levy tolls, that these tolls
should be returned to the ships, either
| in the coastwise or foreign trade. for
the purpose OF assisting In rehabilitating
/ that merchant marine"
The following participated in the SYM
postum on Panama Canal tolls B.
Atwood Robinson, representing Boston
CMass.) Chamber of Commerce: John n.
Teal representing chambers Of commerce
| Of Washington and Oregon; George H.
| Barbour, representing Detroit Board of
Commerce; Alexander Revsll, of Chicago:
William r. Wheeler and wfHiiam Bunker.
| representing chamber of commerce. San
Francisco: Isaac n. Seligman, a member
Of the New York Chamber of Commerce;
John L. Vance. representing Ohio Valley
Improvement Association: Albert Bet
fnr
Club, Of Cincinnati, Ohio: J. II. Beck.
! representing st. Paul Association of Com
merce; Fl. X. Walcott, representing Nor
folk (ya-) Board of Trade and Business
Mems Association Gen. Dwight. repre-
senting Hartford Comm Chamber Of
Commerce; W. B. Kelly, representing the
Philadelphia Chamber OF Commerce; J.
III. Barnes. representing the Commercial
Club Of Duluth, MINI: A. c. NJ. Azoy,
representing the Trafic Association of
New York, and ]. r.. Knowland, OF Cal
ifornia.