The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-20
Principal Speaker at Lunch con of Birmingham Ad
 Club Yesterday
CAFE IS CROWDED
 TO HEAR SPEAKER
Guest of Honor Said Time Has Come When New Markets Are Needed for Our Surplus
 Production

l Oscar w. Underwood, chairman of the ways and means committee of Congress. at the weekly luncheon of the Birming- ham Ad club yesterday at noon in tho Empire cafe. gave expression to an idea of national lmportance-the extension of the merchant marine of the nation.
 '"The time has come." said the guest of honor. when new markets are needed for our surplus production. To prevent periodical occurrences of financial de- pression, we are confronted with the ne- cessity of expansion There are one or more ways in which this expansion can be accomplished. The one of most im- mediate convenience Is the 1evying of cus- tom duties slightly discriminatory in fla vor of our commercial marine"
 The luncheon of yesterday was the ban ner affair of the club. There was not sufficient room to accommodate the mem bers and their guests. An elegant menu was served, and every one, in rare good the leader of national democracy.
 Conservative-Pr Progressive Idea
 The principal speaker gave his hearers a message which has since by means of the wires of the Associated Press, en- circled the globe. The idea he conveyed was in keeping with his characteristic conservative-pr progressive policy He ex- plained how in the early days of democ- racy, when Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson were at the national helm, a duty favorable to American marine was imposed, and that later. on account of the time consumed in the opening up of new territory and new marts of trade within the boundary of the United States, that duty, considered unnecessary, was removed. He then added: But as each new trade center in America was pre- scented, the manufacturers increased their production. Now, within our borders, there is no new territory. We will either produce surplus which cannot be con- stunned or we will go across the seas and sen'
 Favors Discriminatory Duty
 Mir. Underwood then declared in favor Of writing again custom laws making a
 
 American marine. Continuing, he said:
 For five decades our business interests have largely confined the advertisement of their goods, wares and merchandise within the four corners of continental United States. We have expanded our productive capacity in most of the great lines of trade and industry until our home markets in normal times are gorged by over-production and artificial means have been resorted to that prices might be maintained.
 ''That time has come when we must find foreign markets to consume our sur plus products or future development in many lines of industry will cease.
 There are many ways in which we can expand our trade beyond the seas but the most important of all is the building up of an American merchant marine that will give us direct communication with the countries where we wish to trade.
 Tn the administrations of Jefferson, Madison. Monroe and Jackson we en- couraged the building of a merchant fleet by giving discriminating duties to Amer ican ships and then we carried American merchandise into all the ports of the world. The time has come when we should re- turn to the doctrine of our democratic fathers and discriminate in favor of the American ships in order that we may find foreign markets for our surplus products, relieve congested conditions at home and give labor constant employment"