Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-06-14
STILL THE SHIP SUBSIDY.
Pass the UBIQUITOUS Measure
at Next Session.

No great strain is put upon popu-
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 molders 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 a point blank assertion
that Nicaragua canal will MAKE it alb
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
matte 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 I'M
justified and misleading.
The purchase of a 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 subsid v bill be introduced next
term it will make liberal provision for
this same feet. But that it is in itself
paying venture is evident beyond dis
pute in the fact that the shrewd pro-
moter went after it and paid As per
cent. more than the shares showed it
to be worth in the judgment of it's Eng
Hsh 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.
1t will be recalled that the smooth
Mr.. 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-
lation, retroactive, present and future.
Either by connivance or an intuition
that can discount miracles, he had all
inside information and had his inter
ests in 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
1egiance 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.
PRESS COMMENTS.