Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-03-14
A PARTY OF OBSTRUCTION.

The Democrats are always delighted
when a Congressman or Senator
succeeds by filibustering in obstructing
and preventing some contemplated leg
islation by the Republicans in Congress.
They have been showing their delight
over the recent successful effort of
Senator Carmack. of Tennessee, to de-
feat the Ship Subsidy bill during the
closing hours of the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress.
While the Democrats pretend to be-
lieve that the work was done by Sena-
tor Carmack to defeat the measure be
cause of the solicitude of himself and
his party for the interests of the masses
of the people the past history of the
Democracy controverts the claim.
One of the severest charges made by
the Democracy against Republican leg
islation and rule has been that the poll
cies of the party have been such as to
greatly injure and nearly destroy our
merchant marine. That there has been
a great decline in the merchant marine
of the United States.cannot be disputed.
Leading Republicans deny that the in
jury has been wrought through the op-
erations of our tariff laws, as claimed
by the Democrats. And those who are
well informed assert that the damage
has been inflicted by the neglect of the
United States to encourage and protect
our merchant marine by the enactment
of intelligent and just ship subsidy
laws. They tell US that England. Ger
many, and, perhaps, other great COM
mercial countries have built I'D their
merchant marine by the use of liberal
ship subsidies. President Roosevelt ar
rived at the conclusion that a policy
which had been so beneficial to the ship
ping interests of nations that are orr
great commercial rivals would be
equally as useful to ours. Acting upon
that conviction, in a message to Con-
gress, he recommended the passage of
a Ship Subsidy bill. The one which
was defeated by the filbustering tactics
OF Senator Carmack was introduced in
Congress at the suggestion of the
President. 1t had been passed in the
House of Representatives over the OPP
position of the Democratic members
and a considerable number of Repubii-
can members who were afraid to give
1t their sanction; and it would have
passed the Senate if it could have been
brought to vote.
We strongly suspect that Democratic
opposition to the Ship Subsidy bill has
been occasioned more by apprehension
that such law will accomplish what its
friends claim for it, that is, restore our
merchant marine to its former high DO
sition, than by fear that it will be det-
rimental to the interests of the masses
of the people. They argue, of course,
that if such law is made, and it does
what the Republicans claim it will do.
that it will greatly strengthen the Re-
publican party.
If the Democrats really believed that
the Ship Subsidy bill was an unwise
measure, and it's enactment would
greatly injure and offend the masses.
they would not have prevented it's
passage by obstructive tactics. Upon
the contrary they would have in ordi-
nary debate raised their voices and
voted against it when it came I'D for
final passage, and then held the Repub-
hcan party responsible for the injury it
would inflict. 1t would have given the
Democrats some reasonable issue to 90
upon before the people in 1908.