The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-15
Declares 1t Is the Only Posi-
bile Way in Which the Trade
with South American States
Can Be Secured.
DRAWS STARTLING CON-
PARSONS FOR EXAMPLE.
Regards 1t as LamentabIe
That While America Leads
In Many Other Lines, 1t Is
Behind in Ocean Traffic.

About two hundred business men CT
Watson speak Monday evening at the
Commercial club rooms on business top
les of natioal Importance. The title OF
Mr.. Watson's address was Our Trade
Relations with South America but
the burden Of his remarks pointed 10
the necessity of a ship subsidy law. our
insignificant commerce with the
South American republics being used
by the speaker as an example for the
necessity of such law At no time
in the course of his remarks did Mr..
w atson touch on subjects of a polite
al nature. Mr.. Watson's urgent plea
for a ship subsidy law seemed to meet
the approval Of his audience.
Mr.. Watson drew startling cOmpari-
sons between the ocean traffic of the
United States and European countries,
showing how greatly America is be
hind. and advanced explanations for
the situation. Each time he return
ed to the ship subsidy as a remedy On
this he quoted Mckinley Roosevelt and
ence to Roosevelt, paid lie president
the most flattering tribute He be-
Of steamers. subsidized, is the only
means of capturing the South Ameri-
can market He pointed out the woe
full lack of communication beyond the
Caribbean, stating that not one vessel
from the United States makes a
South American port beyond that sea.
MI Watson enlarged upon the supretn-
acy of the United States in many 9th
er ways and then declared we should
have the control of the worlds carry
ing trade.
Essentials for Prosperity.
Mr. Watson, at the opening of his
address. stated that there were three
essentials for our national prosperity,
first, a stable government; second,
steady employment of the laboring
classes: third, an adjustable market.
He stated that last year our exports
from farms and factories amounted to
$1,2OOO 100000. and of this amount 20
per cent went to Europe. Our imports
to South America last year were only
valued at $7o.OOO,OOO. or 4 per cent Of
our export trade. Our imports from
the republics of South America last
year. the speaker stated. were valued
at $15,O00,OOO or twice the amount of
our exports. Mr.. Watson pointed out
that the United States by the Monroe
doctrine, stood sponsor for the rights
and liberties Of our South American
neighbOrs, but at the same time Eu-
rope monopolized the trade of these
republics. the United States only sell
ing to the Latin republics per cent
of what they imported from the world
at large.
Mr.. Watson then pointed out the ne
cessity of a merchant marine. He
said that the government was building
the Panama canal at a cost of hun
dreds of millions of dollars. but that
when it was completed the ditch would
be monopolized by the ships of our
commercial rivals. At the present
time our exports are carried nearly ex-
clusively in foreign bottoms. In
South America. the speaker stated the
people had never heard of the United
states as commercial power, notwith-
standing the fact that the annual out
put of our factories. mines and farms
is greater than that of any country
since the beginning of history. The
reason why the South Americans have
never heard of the United States as a
commercial power. MIR. Watson stat
ed, is because our flag is never seen in
those waters except when our war yes
sells carry it there. What few Amer
lean exports are carried to South
America are taken under the flags OF
our commercial rivals.
Foster All Except Shipping.
Mr.. Watson stated that the Ameri-
can government fostered every COM
mercial enterprise but our internation-
al shipping interests. He said that not
until the government offered encour-
agement to our merchant marine the
United States coud not hope to become
a great maritime power. Mr. Watson
Continued on Page Four.)