Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-29
Would BENEFIT An INTERESTS.


In his able argument in support of the
shipping bill, Senator Hanna said that
the measure, II It becomes n law, will
be widespread in its benefits. He de-
clared that IL is not aimed at any class
or any particular industry, but is one or
those measures the influence Of which
will permeate every industry and every
class in the length and breadth of the
United States. He denied the assertion
that the farmers have no interest in 1T,
saying that every man, no matter what
his vocation in life, is interested and will
be benefited, directly or indirectly. be
cause you cannot create an industry
like this, bringing about. as 1t must
naturally, first the development of our
raw materials and then condition
which ends with the construction of the
ships, opening up the markets Of the
world. giving greater opportunities to
our merchants and manufacturers.
without benefiting every industry and
every line Of business"
This must be apparent to any one who
will give the subject intelligent and un-
prejudiced consideration. The creation
Of an American merchant marine equal
to the requirements of our great foreign
commerce means the enormous extension
of our shipbuilding industry, to the
benefit of numerous other Industries.
Thus would be created an additional
demand for a vast amount OF capital
and labor, the employment of which
would necessarily contribute to the gen
eral welfare and prosperity. The idea
that only the seaboard would derive any
advantage from merchant marine for
the ocean-carrying trade and that the
interior would not be benefited, is ut
terly erroneous. 1t Is of rs much i'm
portance to the cotton states of the
south and the wheat and corn belts of
the northwest as It is to the seaboard.
The mining regions of Pennsylvania,
Ohio, West Virginia and the great lakes,
and the factories of New York, New
Jersey New England and the central
states, are as directly concerned in it as
are the commercial exchanges of the
large cities. Every producer whose
products go to foreign markets is in
terested in it. because 1t means the ex-
tension of markets for these products.
Great as has been the growth of our
foreign commerce, it is not to be doubted
that it would have been greater had we
possessed the facilities of transportation
instead of being dependent upon foreign
ships. This dependence has been a
handicap and its continuance will be
more damaging to us in the future
than it has been in the past for the
reason that the competition for trade is
growing more aggressive and vigorous
All the commercial nations are exerting
their utmost efforts to extend their
trade and the advantage is largely with
those countries that can transport their
products in their own ships under their
own flags. BY reason Of our dependent
position Senator Hanna declared that
we pay as tribute, for every particle of
foreign trade that we now enjoy. a sum
equivalent to fair profit. With Amer
lean ships carrying American products
to the markets of the world this tribute
would be saved to our producers. r..
The fate of the shipping bill in the
present congress is uncertain. There is
Il very determined opposition to it in
the senate which may prevent its pas
sage. But the demand for an American
merchant marine in the ocean-carrying
trade must sooner or later be met.