The San Francisco call., 1899-07-04
OUR FLAG ON THE SEAS

IELL-INFORMED correspondents al Wash
w ngton assert it is now understood in othclal
circles that the administration purposes 10 push
with its utmost vigor al the coming session OF Con
gTess bill for the promotion OF shpbuildng in this
country and the restoration OF the American merchant
marine These reports will be received with general
qualification. for the administration could hardly un-
dertake anything better calculated the welfare
OF the whole people at this time than the measure
under consideration.
The shipping bill which had the support OF the ad-
linistation during the last Congress has been ap-
proved By the maritime and the commercial interests
OF the country It has been indorsed by such impor-
tant representative organizations as the National
Board OF Trade the National Association OF Manutac-
turers. the Chambers OF Commerce OF nearly every
large city IN the Union and by the Trans-Mississippi
Congress It is therefore a measure which may be
deemed thoroughly accord with the opinions OF
those best fitted 10 pronounce Judgment upon II, and
one well devised TO hasten the coming OF the day when
the bulk OF expanding commerce will be carried
across the seas under our own flag
While the measure has found active support IN the
large cities OF the East and appears the face OF it
to be in The interests OF commercial cities rather than
OF the country at large is nevertheless one ii which
the West has perhaps an even more important stake
than the East That view was taken by Alexander k
Smith, the chief speaker on the subject before the
Mississippi Congress. In the course OF his
address he said:
The ships engaged in carrying Our foreign COM
nerce annually earn more than S2oooooyooo, more
than 90 per cent OF which we pay 10 foreign ship
owners who take the money. Its equivalent, out OF
the United States and employ aliens to build 10 own,
10 operate and to navigate the ships which our COM
rnerce EMPLOYS The one State OF Minnesota alone
possesses iron ore in sufficient abundance with which
10 construct all the ships needed by commerce during
the next hundred years. The States OF Oregon and
Washington and California possess unlimited timber
the finest in the world, for shp-building purposes
Every trans-Aississppi State produces surplus OF
the things that are needed by people beyond the seas
On the western and southern boundaries OF the trans
Mississippi section are be found spacious land
locked harbors where shipyards be established
in ample abundance and the idle capital seeking safe
investment can be put into ships Thus endowed and
equipped shall we longer remain dependent upon
aliens for the means OF sea transportation Shall we
not rather build own operate and navigate our own
ships? Why go TO alien shores to obtain the things
we possess at home in greater abundance? Why pay
our rivals 10 do that which may better do for our
selyes:"
These questions carry their answers with them The
West will share with the East in the upbuilding 81
American commerce and will therefore cordially Co
operate in supporting measure designed to accom-
plish that much desired end In determining TO push
the bill as an administration measure the President
has once more shown his patriotic regard for the in
dustral and commercial welfare OF the country and
earns anew the title OF Advance agent OF prosperity