Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-02-28

championed by the late Senate,
Hanna, because it was a vicious
measure. Ii was wholly in the
interest of the Shipping Trust
and ladled out millions of dollars
only to the fast vessels and they
were all owned by the Shipping
Trust, and the most of them were
built in foreign countries. From
standpoint of honesty and decency
and to effect the objects of an hon
est shipping bill in the interest of
American ships and American
commerce, the Hanna bill is no
more To be compared TO this bill
than the feeble corruseations OF
the lightning bug are to be com
pared to the Solar System.
1t Is a fact of profound s:gnif-
canoe that the chief support which
the shipping bill and the entire in
qulry of the Merchant Marine
Commission have received and are
receiving has not come from shin
owners or shipbuilders, or even
from the people of the States ad-
Jacent To the ocean. The most
/ remarkable Endorsements which
have been given To this measure
since 1t was introduced have come
from merchants and manufacturers
interested in the exports trade and
producers of the great interior.
Not only the National Board of
Trade and the American Bankers
Association in annual session at
Washington, but the National As
soclatlon of Manufacturers meet
ing at Atlanta, Ga. and the Amer
lean Cotton Manufacturers Asso-
citation, meeting at Knoxville Tenn.
have specifically commended the
shipping bill of the Commission
and called in the strongest terms
for It's enactment. Two years ago
the Trans-Mississippi Commercial
Congress, representing 81 States
and Territories west of the Missis-
sippi, in formal resolutions declar-
ed.
That the decline of our over-sea
American merchant marine from
carrying 80 per cent. of our ex-
ported products in American bot
toms down TO 9 per cent. is an
anomaly in the industrial develop
ment of the United States, and for
a nation with a greater coast line
and greater resources than any
other, and an unbroken record of
enterprise and intrepidity on the
ocean.
That every ship is missionary
of trade;that steamship lines work
for their own countries just as rail
road lines work for their terminal
points, and that it is as absurd for
the United States to depend upon
foreign ships to distribute its pro-
duce as it would be for a depart
ment store TO depend upon the
wagons of a competing house to
deliver its goods.
That it is the sense of this con-
gress that the Congress of the
United States should enact such
law as will tend to build up the
American merchant marine.
This striking declaration of west
ern and southwestern business men
and producers was reaffirmed last
August by the Trans-Mississippi
Congress at its annual meeting, in
Portland, Greg.
If the people of the country un-
derstood this shipping bill they
would heartily endorse it and am
going to make it part of my busi-
ness to enlighten them on the same.
! understand it and that's why
am in favor of it. Any other man
who is patriotic and wants to see
American trade and American com
merce grow, which will naturally
help the people of the whole coun-
try and not one section or one class
will also support it when they
come to know the facts. This bill
is not sectional and not political
1t is business.
! have often remarked in this
letter that when any railroad rate
bill passed by a Republican Con,
gress and signed by a Republican
President is put forth, it will not bC
in interest of the people. They
will be bowling for. its repeal il
less than six months. Mark the
prediction.
A Healing Gospel.
The Rev / q Worran nastor -