Woodruff County news., 1901-06-06
THE SHIP SUBSIDY MOVEMENT
Republicans Quietly Arranging t0 Pass the IniquitOus Measure
 at Next Session.

 lar credulity in accepting the state ment from an authorized republican source that arrangements are being quietly made to pass the ship subsidy inquiry at the next session of congress. The. prime and most active advocates of the measure have never thought of abandoning their original purpose and are now quietly making an effort un- der the most approved methods to ac- quire the necessary support in con- gress. This is to be had on acceptable terms, provided the people can be rec onciled to this further drain upon their resources, and it is largely with the local holders of public sentiment with in the republican party that the plu- tocratic lobbyists are laboring. They are not footing fanfares from noisy horns, firing cannon or beating tom toms, but employing the quiet methods of the literary bureau.
 What they seem to handle as their knockdown argument amounts, when analysed, to point blank assertion that Nicaragua canal will make it ab- solutely imperative that the merchant marine be placed in control of our car rying trade, through the bounty of the government. The answer to this dog matic assertion is that the canal, even when built, will have little to do with the expansion of our sales in foreign markets, for they only take such sur plus of our production as they must have, and would take no more if the American fleet were larger than all the rest combined. But if it be granted that the isthmian waterway is going to make a greater call upon our resources and means of transportation, that fact will in itself make sea-going vessel property remunerative and invite cor porate capital without reference to government aid. The fact is that the canal is a remote contingency when considered in connection with present conditions, and can only be used in this connection for purposes that are un- justified and misleading.
 The purchase of large English transportation line by the syndicate which J. Pierpont Morgan represents was made without any reference to the canal. Yet we have no doubt that if a new subsidy bill be introduced next term it will make liberal provision for this same fleet. But that it is in itself a paying venture is evident beyond dis pute in the fact that the shrewd pro- moter went after it and paid 45 per cent. more than the shares showed it 10 be worth in the judgment of it's Eng fish owners. Another fact that should tend to set the popular mind against the proposed subsidies is the fact that the movement to capture the people is under the personal direction of President Griscom, of the Interna- tional Navigation company, the man who had modestly and adroitly man. aged to feather his own nest, inside and out, by the provisions of the bill defeated by the last congress.
 It will be recalled that the smooth Mir. Griscom had so arranged his hop pers as to catch all but the bran and middlings of the subsidy grist. He had way the best of all the proposed legis- latlon, retroactive, present and future. Either by connivance or an intuition that can dlscount miracles, he had all inside information and had his inter& ests in a position to rake down the bulk of the subsidies. He had no rival as the prince of grabbers. He dictated the bill. He enlisted it's powerful and wealthy supporters, he formed the re- ports of committees and inspired the speeches of the subsidy champions on the floor. Yet he had the humility of Uriah Heap when interviewed for pub lie information. Knowledge of what he has brought about in the alienation of national statesmen from their al- legiance to the people, and of the mo- tives that actuated him, should dis credit him and his movement to re- vive the subsidy scheme.-Detroit Free Press.