The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04

ination of tho senate bill will reveal the |
fact that the southern states have |
many more mail routes under this bill |
than any other section in proportion to
business and commercial Importance
many more than any just division would
give. Several of these routes, I think
more than half Of them, were added by
amendments made by Southern senator's
Then with true democratic consistency,
after the bill was SO amended that the
south would be more benefited than any
other section, every southern senator
voted against the bill. AS the demo-
Gratis Of the south are always opposed
to subsidy steal, with a distinct
mental reservation, however, provided
that it is not their Steal no, true
patriot should desire to damn virtuous
souls by thrusting this infamy upon
them. AS they do not want subsidies,
as they are opposed to this bill, as every
southern senator voted against, it, their
desires and their interests should be re-
garded, and am confident they will be.
I am in favor Of giving assistance to
those who want it and who are willing
to help get it. The southern. lines
should be stricken from the bill.
Some Necessities for the Bill:
"In addition to the fact that if we
could carry our own trade it would give
employment to 100000 men in America,
this legislation will keep at home half
million dollars in American gold
which Zach day now go abroad. q.
"There is another besides this bust
ness and commercial side, and that is
one Of patriotism. No American but
feels a touch Of humiliation, whatever
the cause may be, that his country 8
flag has practically disappeared from
the seas. We are spending 800, 100000
annually for our navy. Better
| thousand times give it to rivers and
harbors, public buildings, or other in
ternal improvements, or pay it out in
pensions; for we have naval vessels now
that we could not man if war were de-
clared tomorrow. We are building
battleships that when completed, if our
present policy is continued, must be
left at anchor. No crews can be OBJ
tanned to man them. No other nation
but Russia ever committed so costly and
humiliating an inexcusable error. What
use is battleship, however powerful,
without men7 A few years more and
we must stop building battleships and
give up all pretense Of having navy
or we must get crews for them. The
first section Of the bill provides for a
naval reserve for training American
boys so that when the time comes they
can 60 OIL our battleships and there
give such account Of themselves as the
Japanese boys on their battleships,
from the subsidized vessels of their
country, gave in their war with Russia.
We have no scout ships or trans
ports for the navy or for the use of the
army These cannot be supplied by
purchase from foreign countries, were
It otherwise possible. II, it were per-
mitted by international law, all foreign
ships suitable for this purpose every
oneT-ate now running under subsidy
under contract-to some foreign govern
fnent, which would absolutely prohibit
our securing them. No other nation
| pretending to be civilized, except China
/ and Russia, has ever followed our
policy. In many respects we are more
| helpless and unwise in these matters
than either Of these countries. =