Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-06
Demand for Practical Knowledge.

were s1,6lo,1s1 greater than in Novem-
Der.
Demand for Practical Knowledge.
december Review of RevieWs.J
The great demand of the day in all de-
partments Of life and activity Is for real
knowledge. The isthmian canal ques-
ton has been before the country for
several decades, yet congress was
doubtless justified in expending mil
lion dollars for this latest inquiry in ac-
acknowledgement of the fact that the re-
quiste information was still lacking up
on which to base action so momentous
as the construction of an inter-oceanic
waterway. 1t is almost inevitable that
congress will decide that the country
can not take up the ship subsidy ques-
ton without far more knowledge than it
now possesses. The more that topic is
discussed the palmer does 1T become
that almost nobody understands 1t at
all. There is an oft-quoted remark OF
Bismarck's to the effect that only two
men-himself and one other-had ever
understood the Schleswig Holstein
question, and that the other man was
long since dead. Before a century like
ours can enter upon an important phase
Of economic policy like the paying OF
subsidies to develop the business OF
sailing merchant ships under the Ameri-
can flag there must be a great many
men who firmly believe that they UNI
derstand the subject on its principal
bearings. With all Difference to those
who have been prominent in ts recent
discussion, we may venture to assert the
belief that there are not twenty-five
people out of the 100000 inhabitants
of the United States who could pass an
examination that would show them suf-
ficoently wise and well informed to pro-
coed at once to formulate an American
ploicy for Developing the merchant
marine by means of ship subsidies.
There are great many more men.
doubtless, who could pass an intelligent
examination upon the subject OF tariff
reciprocity But this subject also is one
that offers difficulties Of most exas-
perating nature. and requires most
careful study and examination. Recip-
rocity as Mr.. Blaine conceived 1t dozen
years ago was a part Of his large west
ern hemisphere policy, which had it's
political as we'll as its commercial bear
ings. His thought was not OF trade re-
ciprocity between the United States and
Europe, but rather OF the establishment
Of direct communication between the
United States and the Latin republics
on the plan Of opening our ports to West
Indian sugar and tobacco. and to South
American coffee, hides and other lead
ing products, in exchange for conces-
sions that would admit American goods
to those countries on terms greatly SUI
perior to those granted to European
countries The future historian OF
American political and trade policy VIII
probably Justify Mr.. Blaine's proposal
as statemanslike in high sense, being
peculiarly adapted to the conditions
that existed at that time: and the his
torian will recite as singularly unfortu-
nate the series OF political accidents and
partisan decisions that thwarted and
biighted Mr.. Blaine's brilliant policy.
But the conditions are more compli-
Gated today. and it would be. CORE
spondingly difficult to set forth a con-
sistent and acceptable plan of reciproci-
ty. It was evident last month that
practical business men, irrespective OF
party lines. were proposing to take these
questions into their own hands An i'm
portant convention of manufacturers,
under the craftsmanship OF Theodore
C.. Search, Of Philadelphia, met at
Washington to formulate their views in
favor of reciprocity policy. On the
other hand, a league of American agri-
cultural producers, under the special d.
rection of Herbert Myrick. was prepar-
ing to resist to the utmost any conces-
sions in favor of Cuban or other foreign
sugar or tobacco. while a delegation
from Cuba arrived at Washington to
present arguments and petitions for the
opening OF the American market to Gu
has chief productions. 1t will be found
hard indeed to reconcile the diverse
views that will be presented to congress.
In this matter. therefore. as in othere
the one thing needful is full and clear
knowledge Of the changed conditions.
and of the probable results Of given
line Of action. More and more we shall
accept the idea that the vast undertake
ings OF a government like ours must be
based upon scientific knowledge. And
far from grudging what it costs to make
and collate facts az pre-
liminary to important decisions we
shall realize that such OUTLAWS are the
best and most economical Of all public