President Woodrow Wilson Address, National Foreign Trade Convention May 27-28, 1914: (The delegates then proceeded to the White House where, in the East Room, they were received by the President, being individually introduced by Mr. Edward N. Hurley, Chairman of the Reception Committee. Addressing the delegates the President said): "I had hoped that Secretary Redfield would put into my ear what I should say to you, for I cannot claim to be an expert on the subjects you are discussing. I am sure he expressed the feeling which I would wish to express, which is the feeling of encouragement that is given by the gathering of a body like this for such a purpose. There is nothing in which I am more interested than the fullest development of the trade of this country and its righteous conquest of foreign markets. "I think that you will realize from what Mr. Redfield has said to you that it is one of the things that we hold nearest to our heart that the government and you should co-operate in the most intimate manner in accomplishing our common object. One of your members just now said something in my ear about the merchant marine, and I am sure that I speak the conviction of all of you when I say that one of our chief needs is to have a merchant marine, because if we have to deliver our goods in other people's delivery wagons, their goods are delivered first and our goods are delivered incidentally on their routes. This is a matter I have had near my own heart for a great many years. It was only by authority of my parents that I was prevented from going to sea, and I only hope that it is not a universal regret that I did not. "I hope this is only the first series of conferences of this sort with you gentleman, and I thank you for this opportunity."

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