Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-30

What ] have indicated has been the
line of argument pursued here-that
citizens Of the South and the West
have no interest in this question, and
my friend made one line of his argu-
ment from this standpoint-that
America owns no ships; that we have
no carrying trade ourselves. 1t is true
tnat We own comparatively few ships.
1t is true, also, that the great bulk of
American commerce with foreign ma
lions is carried on in foreign ships.
But none the less does it devolve upon
us TO protect that commerce, although
1t happens to be carried in foreign
ships. Nine hundred million dollars
worth of American products went
across the broad Atlantic to the ma
lions of Europe last year. Whence
did those products come? Where were
they raised and who would be the
sufferers if that commerce were for a
month or a year interrupted? Who
sell that surplus to the civilized world +?
The farmers of Kansas (from which
State my friend hails), as much as the
people from any other section.
Mr. Davis-WiH the gentleman per-
nit a question?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia-Oh,
yes.
Mr.. Davis-Does the gentleman
think We should build vessels to pro-
tect property under the British flag?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia-If
II be American property, and if fail
ing to build vessels keeps American
property from going abroad, of course
we should protect that property.
do not care under what flag it sails,
1t should be protected. My friend
would stand in very poor position be-
fore the farmers of Kansas when he
goes home if they should find that
500, 600 or 5000, 600 bushels of Kansas
corn, placed on British ship to be
shipped TO Great Britain, could not get
out of the port of New York because
he had voted for a poor navy INSULT
cient to protect that harbor and drive
away the foreign ships that might be
preventing that Kansas corn from 60
ing out
Mr.. Davis-Because we did not
build ships to protect the British flag,
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia.
do not care what flag it might be. l
want to keep the American ports omen.
| want TO allow you men from the
West TO send your corn, your wheat
and whatever else you may raise to
whatever market you may desire to
send it to be sold
Mr.. Livingston-Then the gentleman
is in favor of free ships?
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia.
have always been in favor of most
things being free.
Mr.. Chairman, gentlemen from,
the South and West, from whom
IL IS supposed some opposition to this
Dlll may come, are more interested in
TINS matter OF strengthening the Amer
lean navy than any other class of orr
population. Almost the entire cotton
crop of the South is sold to European
nations. The great surplus of the pro-
ducts Of the West-their corn, their
wheat, their pork, their general agri-
cultural surplus-fnds a market in
Europe. And it is the duty of the
American Congress, if we desire TO
look after the general welfare. to
adopt such a policy, not only that a
small nation, not only that a feeble
naval power shall not be able to inter-
rupt our commerce, but that we shall
be able TO maintain a navy strong
enough to keep open every American
port so that We can seek the markets
of the world without vexation, without
hindrance, and without interruption
from any quarter whatever.
There is woe and misery in Kansas
to-day, and the cry Of the people has
long made itself heard How much
greater would they be, how much more
widespread, if in the event of a for
eign war the farmers of that State
and of the West should find the Allan
tic and Pacific ports closed by the
superior fleets of the nation with which
We were at war, and find the surplus
agriculture whose sale in Europe keeps
them from the almshouse wasting and
decaying in their fields Tor want of a
market because their representatives
were too penurious TO vote the money
necessary to keep the seas clear for
the successful shipment of their pro-
duce to the place of marketing and
sale.
Mr.. Simpson-Does the gentleman
think battleship of 10000 tons dis
placement is a good ship to protect
American commerce on the high seas,
or is she not better adapted to coast
defense?
Mr. Pendleton, of West Virginia
She is good for both purposes. She is
a first-class ship to keep your ports
open and prevent the blockade of our
large cities
Mr.. Simpson-Do you not think that
the armored cruiser is a more valu-
able boat as protection to our COM
merce?
Mr. Pendleton, of West Virginia
No, do not. / think the heavy bat
tleship is best for ali purposes.
Mr. Simpson-You want a swift
moving ship
Mr.. Pendleton, of West Virginia
And | call your attention to another
thing. The gentleman from Kansas,
in his remarks a few moments ago
with reference to the recent naval bat
ties between China and Japan, made
some comments which l do not think
are warranted by the facts. He stated
that the great battle ships have not
proved themselves to be so effective as
against the light armored, swift cruls-
ers. but, as a matter of fact, the re-
ports show that these Chinese battle
ships endured, with but little injury,
all of the shot and shell to which they
had been subjected from the fire of the
Jananese guns and endured with safe
Nv every attack upon them. They were
not injured or destroyed in that way.
The naval experts say that if the Chi
nese ships had been properly handled
I,a rl- "a