Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-10-16
CABINET MEMBER ARGUES FOR A
MERCHANT MARINE.
NOT SURE ABOUT SUBSIDIES
Wants Results But Does Not Stand
for ANY Particular Method
Would Provide Ample Foreign
Markets for the Great American
Surplus of Production.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 12.-Secre-
tary Shaw, speaking before the Amer
lean Bankers association yesterday
said the nations of the earth sell to
each other $4,000, 100000 worth Of
merchandise per annum, one-eighth OF
which originates in the United States,
and one-ninth OF this aggregate finds
our ports for ultimate consumption.
"Within the last half century," he con-
tinued, "the United States has not
only assumed Importance among
commercial countries, but in the last
decade has become the greatest COM
mercial nation of the world. Not
only do her exports exceed those OF
any other country, but her domestic
commerce is two and one-half times as
large as the aggregate international
commerce of the round earth. While
the eighty and more commercial
countries are selling, the one to the
other, merchandise worth $4,000
100000, the American people sell to
each other merchandise worth prac-
tically $4,000, 100000. This export
trade is due in no very large degree
to our skill either as international
bankers or as international mer-
chants.
1--WE produce 100000 tons of copper
per annum-more than half OF the
worlds aggregate OF this we con-
sumo somewhat over 100000 tons ana
export nearly ais much. This being
the source of greatest supply, the
world again comes for our surplus,
and comes in it's own ships. 1t re-
nuires 10 international merchant to
sell copper. We produce 70 per cent
of the worlds supply OF refined petro-
leun. 1t would seem to require
neither an international merchant
nor a merchant marine to- market our
surplus petroleum. The Standard Oil
company, however, in it's information
al business has found it convenient to
provide ships. Of our aggregate ex-
ports, about $1,000, 900 consists of
raw cotton, food products, petroleum
products, crude copper, lumber, and
other raw materials and crude arti-
cles, of which we produce a surplus,
which the world not only needs but
must have.
"The time is coming, gentlemen
with our increasing population more
largely urban than ever, with facto-
ries multiplying more rapidly than
farms, with limitless manufacturing
resources, and matchless aptitude for
production--Whe the United States
will need new and important markets.
The world may come to us in it's own
ships for the products of our farms
and the raw products of our mines,
but it will not come in it's own ships
for the finished products OF factories.
The time is coming when We will need
international bankers and interna-
tional merchants and an international
merchant marine.
81 am we'll aware that there are
some, and they are not confined to
any one party or to any one locality
they are prominent in both parties.
and are found on the shores Of New
England and on the pr2iries west OF
the ippi-Who urge that we
need do nothing more than gracefully
surrender a portion Of our $4,000,
100000 of domestic commerce, and
then. by a logic which I do not I'M
derstand, we will get SO much larger
share of the worlds $10,000,000,00
export trade as It, fully compensate
ourselves, and that in addition we
will make the world happy l quite
agree with them that it would make
our competitors happy. But / will moi
discuss that question. | desire to con:
fine my remarks to the Importance OF
q merchant marine.
cover 100 years ago congress passed
an act giving to the American ship
builder and the American ShlpoWnei
monopoly Of our coastwise trade