The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-11
Best Way to Build Up Our
Merchant Marine.
EDITORS EXPRESSIONS
Most of Them Are Opposed to the
Subsidy Idea.
REPEAL OF RESTRICTIVE LAWS
This Is One of the Methods Suggested
for the Much-Desired
Result.

Special to The Journal.
| Chicago, Oct. 1.-THE Tribune this
morning prints the following: What is
the best way to build UP an American
merchant marine? This is another i'm
portant question in which the nation is
interested and with which congress is
expected tn grapple during the coming
session. That merchant marine proper
tionate in size and quality with our mar
vellous industries is one of the needs of
the hour is admitted on every hand. How
to bring this about, however, is a prob
has been proposed in congress-subsidies
This suggestion, it has been clearly
proved, is not popular with the American
public. What, then, is the next best
plan? In order to obtain an expression
of opinion on this subject the Tribune ad-
dressed this query to leading newspaper
editors in the different sections of the
country:
Will you kindly outline your views of the
best way to build up a merchant marine
other than the subsidy scheme as proposed
last year.
Replies were received from eighteen
editors. OF these twelve are at the head
Of republican newspapers, four are con-
nected with newspapers of Independent
politics and two control democratic pa
pers. These states are represented:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, New
Hampshire. New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Maryland, Colorado, Alabama, Ken
lucky and Oregon. Twelve of the eigh-
teen editors declare themselves opposed
to the subsidy scheme, four indorse it
and two take neutral position.
Henry Watterson of the Louisville
Courier Journal is Of the opinion that the
problem can be solved by repeating the
discriminating navigation laws, reducing
protective duties on commodities that en-
ter into shipbuilding to a revenue basis
and turning our sailors loose.
The editor of the Baltimore Sun, inde
pendent suggests the repeal Of laws which
forbid Americans to buy ships where they
can buy them the cheapest. and r. F.
Smith, editor of the Mobile, Ala, Item,
shares the same opinion.
William E. Cramer, editor Of the Mil
waukee Evening Wisconsin, regards the
problem as one for the ''clearest heads
duu DIOdu66l 5IdLSSul6A VI Lu6 udllOu,
while. the editors of the Denver Rocky
Mountain News; Appleton, Wis, Post;
Centralia, ILL.,, Sentinel; Galesburg, ILL.,,
Republican Register, and the Manchester,
n. H., Union, advise discriminating duties
in favor Of all goods carried by American
vessels.
Frank E. Noyes, editor Of the Marinette,
Wis, Daily Eagle, says:
Our merchant marine would be materially
aided by the construction of a ship canal
from the great lakes to the Atlantic large
enough to accommodate largest ocean liners.
This would make feasible direct lines Of
steamers from Chicago, Milwaukee and other
ports the great lakes. and would much
encourage the shipping industry. though to
do this the old treaty relative to the build
Ing of war vessels on the great lakes would
have to be abrogated-
The editor of the Sioux City Tribune is
Of the opinion that this nation is rich
enough to build merchant marine, and
has business enough to employ one, but
he opposes the establishment of another
subsidized favorite that would soon be
among the most powerful"