Show philadelphia exposition GOVERNOR STONE SPEAKS OF AMERICAN COMMERCE philadelphia sept 14 with ceremonies unattended by ostentation the national export exposition was formally opened at noon today distinguished visitors from all sections ol 01 the country were in attendance including representatives of the diplomatic corps officers of the army and navy scientists and business and professional men the dedicatory ceremonies were held in the immense auditorium which was crowded admiral sampson and the officer 0 his squadron with other distinguished guests were escorted from mayor ash bridges office to the exposition grounds by a platoon of mounted police and marines of the north atlantic squadron they occupied seats on the diat form in the auditorium governor stone made an address welcoming the visitors accepting the exposition and turning it over to the mayor of philadelphia governor stone said the national export exposition Is the result of the work of two great philadelphia institutions the philadelphia museum and tho franklin institute its object isalo export trade country by the exposition this country throws down the gauntlet of the world and challenges any and all countries to articles as good and as cheap as those here exhibited protective tariffs in this country have transferred the competition between importers under tree trade to a competition between biome producers under protection and today the home producer has a guarantee of the home trade which induces him to embark in manufacturing and the home consumer has his goods at greatly reduced prices some of them tor less than aho tariff on similar imported articles we are now fairly in the race for the worlds trade our only drawback Is shipping facilities today our exports are carried in foreign ships and we are paying each year to foreign ship owners this Is a reflection on our statesmanship our ocean freight should be carried in american ships it the circumstances do not justify the construction of american ships in american docks congress should by subsidy or otherwise make it an inducement to capital to embark in this enterprise mayor ashbridge accepted the exposition from the governor then congressman W P hepburn of iowa chairman of the congressional committee on interstate inter state and foreign commerce delivered the oration of the day lie eald there are nineteen millions of people in the united states who labor and who aid in creating wealth fifteen millions of these possess the en political power of the nation the perpetuity of this government te dependent upon keeping this great army of laborers employed and being employed content this can only be secured by securing our portion of the trade of the markets of the world and in efforts to secure it we must meet and overcome the fiercest rivalry of tho great nation what modern arms are what a battleship in martial contests this export exposition that is today is to be to us in our efforts rightful share of foreign commerce it might well bo called a university of commerce the benediction was pronounced by archbishop ryan of this city and at its conclusion a message from president mckenley was read extending arc and officially opening the great exposition then a chorus of six hundred voices and the audience bang tho star spangled accompanied by the united states marine band at ahe conclusion of the the exposition was thrown olento the public and tho prominent guests inspected the buildings grounds and exhibits 6 v |