Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-14
Ohio Stands for Shipping Subsidies.

Ohio Stands for Shipping Subsidies.
The great Republican victory won in
Ohio was significant of many things,
and not the least of these is the attitude
of that state on the question of sub
sides for American shipping in foreign
trade. That was one of the chief issues
in the campaign. Every intelligent
citizen of that state expected HerrlcK 10
be elected governor and Tom Johnson
buried in defeat, and the main issue
was whether a legislature should be
elected which should return Senator
Hanna to Washington. He was made
the chief object of attack by the Demo-
Gratis during the entire campaign. His
record in supporting the ship subsidy
hill was the main issue, and Senator
Hanna made it fairly and squarely. He
stated with all the emphasis Of which
he was capable, that he had worked and
voted for the ship subsidy bill during
his service in the United States senate,
and that if he were returned he would
continue to work and vote for ship
subsidy bills. He made 1T impossible
for any one to misunderstood his
position in the matter. 1t was on this
point that Tom johnson attacked him
day after day, and SO, too, did John II.
Clark, who WAS the recognized Demo-
cratic candidate to succeed Mr.. Hanna
in the senate.
In every opposing speech, Senator
Hanna's advocacy of subsidies for
American shipping was referred to, and
all the Democratic papers of the state
were full of articles attacking ship sub
sides in general and Senator Hanna in
particular. But he never wavered for
a moment. He .stood pat" and put
forth the facts and arguments that
made votes when election day came
along. He explained that American
shipping in the foreign trade is unpro-
tected; that as result it had declined
from 100000 tons in 1861 to $4,000 tons
in 1902; that from carrying 65 per cent
of our foreign commerce in 1861 We had
fallen to the carrying of paltry per
cent in 1902; that American ships cost
more to build and to run than foreign
ships do; that the difference in the cost
of construction and operation is the
difference in the wages paid to Ameri-
can workingmen in the building and
running of American ships; and that he
desired protection for American ship
ping equal to that enjoyed by other
American industries that are subject to
foreign competition.
AS a result of this discussion, Ohio
elected 11S Republicans and rs Demo-
Gratis to the State legislature. When
the time comes to elect his successor,
Senator Hanna will receive 11S votes
and John II. Clarke who attacked ship
subsidies up and down and across the
State of Ohio and who assailed Senator
Hanna s record lueTcOIl Will ICSelNC 20
votes. Senator Hanna will return to
the United States Senate for another
term of six years with a majority of 6
members of his State legislature.
There was a majority of but one in the
Ohio legisla ture that first elected Sena-
tor Hanna to the United States Senate.
Now there is majority of SO! No one
can hereafter say that Senator Hanna
does not represent the people of his own
State when he votes for subsidies.
With the great state of Ohio thus on re-
cord, the prospect is bright indeed for
a law at the coming session which will
restore the old time prestige of the
American merchant marine. 1t cannot
be that the United States will longer re-
fuse to give It's foreign shipping the
protection it needs.