Evening journal., 1900-12-20

American people labOred IN view of
those conditions, Immediately began a
rivalry to see which one could earliest
secure for itself this great trade with
the United States
Nation after nation followed each
other in rapid succession, passing laws.
directly subsidizing steamers for any
and every part OF the globe England,
foremost by reason OF her natural adj
vantages opened new shipyards until
at last, with a few years, mlles-yes, Il
say miles-of ships upon the stocksI
were visible in the yards Of Scotland
England and Ireland. From that day
TO the present time there has been mol
cessation Of that effort, and, in propor-
tion as the effort is made in this coun-
try, the effort is redoubled in the coun-
tries OF our competitors, in order sol
fully TO occupy the ground that there
can hc no temptation even with theI
supeTfluity OF capital in this country,
to induce our people to engage inI
shipping.
Any business man who has watched
the drift of current events from theI
close of the civil war until to-day has
found that to be the most prominent
policy adopted IN foreign competition
a measure looking TO the development
Of our shipping interests has been
brought before a House OF Congress.
Immediately the agents ana representa-
tives of those IN competition were onI
the ground ready and anxious TO de-
feat Il.
The foundation Of this measure Is
based upon the proposition, first, toI
overcome the difference in cost of con-
struction; next, the difference in cost
of operation. The foundation OF theI
subsidy measure is 10 begin at theI
minimum rate per miles sailed, which
is applied to all ships alike Them
when you get above a 12-knot ship,
where the relative cost of operation
increases, doubles, trebles, and quad
ruples almost upon each knot Of forced
speed, increased compensation on speed
allowance, as we call II. Is given toI
each class. For instance. the s or 10
knot ship under this bill receives so
much per mile sailed on the gross ton
mage Of the vessel.
Oh, no, Mr. President, in making my
appeal to the American people for this
great industry, | want to put it upon
the broad ground Of a connecting link
between the producer and the CON
sumer ,as an adjunct to our further
growth and prosperity, which it Is writ
ten must continue in the nature of
things because of the conditions which
control us and our future-condition
which rise above the speculative ques-
ton whether one man will get a little
more benefit than another, conditions
which appeal to our benevolence in the
responsibilities that we owe to the
working people of this country.
AS to the popularity or the unpopular
ity Of this measure, ] stand here to-
day in the presence Of the whole Amer
lean people and claim that this kind
Of legislation as inspired by the best
sentiment and the wisest experience of
those best qualified TO judge its merits
| am standing here as the exponent Of
that principle, and | claim for every
line in the bill that IL is in the interest
OF the whole people Of the United
States, and particularly Of those who
must look to higher and more expert
enced authority to conduct the public
affairs " our government In their In
terest Upon that basis l make my ap-
peal, and | leave it in your hands.
II IS simply a question OF whether
the ships which carry our own pro-
ducts shall be built Of foreign ma
terials by foreign shipbuilders en-
ploying foreign labor which spends
many millions of dollars Of wages in
foreign channels Of trade, or whether
our own people shall receive the bene-
iits of such industrial activity.
It is simply a question Of whether,
after such ships are built, they shall be
owned and operated by foreigners or
Americans and whether the profits Of
such ownership and operation shall 60
to enrich other nations, or remain here
to enrich our own arteries of trade
The people are in favor of legisla-
tion which win restore American pres
tige on the high seas. and bring with
It all these trade benefits.
1t will cost something to bring it
about but it has paid Great Britain
and other nations to foster their ship
ping interests by a system Of subsidies,
and what has benefited them certainly
will benefit us.