The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-22

--o''--NN AN"'N''taA aAtN tANNNNNNN fNohSi"
tion for restoring the American fag I,
the seas. rhsy seek. alike by the lnost
open and barefaced effort and through
the most subtle channels, 70 stamp this
baneful influence upon every American
institution and organization whose orig
lnal and avowed purposes were praise
worthy and patriotic.
Who but these foreign steamship lines
is using the reform club to disseminate
their so-caned "educational' but un-
American literature designed to infiu-
ence action detrimental to the subsidy
bm9 Tons upon tons of this stun have
been scattered broadcast over the coun.
Try. Who pays The freightg" who
hands over the checks, or the less dan
gerous but not less discriminating cash,
that 'swectens" the proper parties IN
The reform club management? Is John
De Wilt Warner cQnverSant with all
the faotsg Would ne. II pressed. tell
all he Enowse WI the officers Of the
reform club come out freely, fairly and
frankly. and deay. fat-footed. that the
foreign money OF the foreign steamship
lines is supporting this up-American
campaign OF education" against the
ship subsidy bin2
Senator Frye recognized the sort OF
influence that he has TO cope with when
he declared the other day that the worst
enemies Of this measure are no, those
who oppose it from honest conviction
but those who are fighting it from self
interest These" he added, ARE the
owners OF the Foreign steamship lines
and their allies. inspired only by self
interest-one OF the most powerful OF all
mO,ives-and they VIII make a most de-
termined. vigorous and never-endlng
fight"
a cats paw that they are using Just
now-and even the cat may find it pro-
titable-ls the editorial page Of the New
York Journal OF Commerce-about the
mOst un-Amerlcan thing that they could
conveniently lay their hands on. For
week past it has fairly bristled with
TIE most venomous attacks on this
thoroughly American measure, and has
gwen continued utterance 10 the most
uupatrioiic sentiments. The foreign
shipowners. who draw $780, 900 in gold |
every day for hanging American exports
and imports. are thoroughly frightened. |
Their income is threatenea-and. BY the !
same token, the pocket Of the Journal
Of Commerce. That Is why it ''horlers." |
A despicable self-interest breathes from
every line and every word Of its as
saults on the ship subsidy bill
There is not in the whole anatomy Of |
the New York Journal Of Commerce
one single fibre Of real Americanism. 1t |
is owned. controlled and operated by
British-born subjects; it draws a large
share OF its business from the foreign
shipping lines; and when foreign self |
interest fiddles. the Journal Of Com
merce dances. 1t is normally the organ 4
and mouthpiece 9f those interests. and
now. when an American spirit Of self !
defense asserts itself. that newspaper |
becomes at once their all too willing
weapon. The whole establishment is
from top TO bottom gangrened with for
eign prejudice; it is constantly poo-poo-
ing things American-nothing is done
right in this country-and If ever an |
honest, disinterested American senti-
ment should by any accident be con-
eeiyed there, it would never live to see
the type.
The Journal Of Commerce processes 70 |
be opposed to subsidies on principle.
Why, the very fact that it is alive to-
day and kicking" against a thorough
" American measure. bellies the utter
ance A child Of subsidy that assails
its parent is only one step short Of a
patricide.
And the merchants association Of
New York, too, has all Of a sudden con-
ceived a highly virtuous sentiment in
opposition to this bill. and posts some
of its men off TO Washington in parlor
cars to hold up Senator Frye and his
committee While protesting a sort Of
general friendship for the measure, it
fears that the bill is seriously handl-
capped by one particular provisiOn-so
off goes its protesting literature"
through the mails! Are its aim and
mission different in any essential from
those Of the reform club? Is the mer-
chants association promoting Or pre-
venting the upbuilding Of the American
merchant marine? Is it trying to PASS
the bill or kill it-which2 Mr. G11stave