The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-30
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Everybody recognizes this commis- sion as in q sense a farce. The ship building crowd was one of the heaviest contributors to Hanna's campaign chest. They gave him. money in 1900 and after events showed a bargain had been struck and Hanna, was not man to go back on a bargain. because some squeamish people would cali it cor rupt. He went in to win and if of Aces and legislation could be bartered for votes he never hesitated one mo- ment to barter. When Harrison sent in certain nomination to the Senate, he was heard to say Thank God. that is the last appointment have to make with Quay's I. o. U.' upon it." Hanna was of different stripe. He never groaned when called on for the goods He cheerfully handed them over, wheth- CT offices or acts of Congress
 In the matter of the ship subsidy he struck a stump and big one. This was Western sentiment. headed and voiced by Uncle Joe Cannon. Cannon. both as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and .as Speaker, stood like rock against the scheme. He could never see any propriety In taking money from the pockets of the farmer, to be turned over to ship building trust to enable them to carry on business they publicly declared they must carry on at loss unless they could get money from the public treasury in sufficient quantity to save them from loss. The whole protection system is one of subsidies, taking your family's money for use by another mans family but the fraud Is so cun- ningiy concealed by cries of home mar isets and high wages that. the goose has now for years consented to be plucked constantly on the plea to be plucked is always good for the goose. When a subsidy is proposed, how ever, the protectionist comes from un- der cover and boldly -avows he wants you to help, him with money in the shape of a bonus to start a business that will not pay. He says he cannot compete in the construction of ships with the Clyde people. and you cannot out giving him subsidy Merchant marine" has aigood sound; the two words begin with the same letter and together they suggest ocean going com merce. Some people are deIuded by, the mere sound. Others are deluded by the fFfnffa hnt n big lot of merchant vessels ready for instant conversion to the uses of war. We must make ready to lick the other fellows on the high seas
 The comedy commission has for it's immediate object. we have no doubt, once more to raid the ship-builders for contributions to the Republican cam paign fund. The Republicans will not be able this year to command such sums as they did in 1896 and in 1900. Tho standard of value will not be threat ened in this election and besides Roosevelt while trying desperately of late to recover his ground with the great financial magnates. is known to be looked on with no very friendly eye by those accustomed to make up the campaign purse. The commission will go right on taking testimony. and we know today what the majority will recommend. It will strongly favor a ship subsidy. This will be their apol- ogy for a failure to do anything in the past and promise to fleece the peo- pie next winter by an act passed to put money in the purses of a few capital ists on the eastern coast of the United States