Evening journal., 1908-01-18
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FoRTY-slxTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

equal importance the question protection
and assistance by the government in the upbuidlng
maintenance Of our merchant marine. During the past
forty fifty years the signal failure two
attempts by private enterprise to establish lines Of
steamships in the foreign tradehe old Collins Line
South American ports and the later American Line
from Philadelphia, and afterwards from New York.
Lverpool-had convinced shipping merchants and ship
owners that without governmental aid all Euro
pean governments that ever had merchant marine
expected have one had always extended by granting
liberal subsidies the hope Of establishing respect
able merchant service in this country would be futile;
and that all Of and varied products agricultural
mineral and manufactured for export be carried in
foreign built ships and under foreign Nag
Efforts to induce Congress TO pass "shp- Subsidy"
law had been made periodically long ago
member by public-sprted Of all political parties,
both in individual capacity and in organized bodies. The
strongest and effective of thesehough It has not
yet been effective enough 20 accomplish anything in the
desired drecton-isthe American Shipping and Industrial
League Of New York with ramihcatons all over the
country. especially in the Eastern section II had
considerable membership in this city Of which one.
The fourth annual convention Of this organization was
held in Willard Hall Washington d. c. during the latter
part OF President Clevelands first administrations and
the late General Joseph Wheeler, then a member Of
congress from Alabama was its unanimously elected
preside-showng that the South as well as the Norh
and West had advocates and supporters of this import
ant measure Wilmington of sent its delegation
to the convention and of the number
During the sessions which lasted for three days, was
afforded opportunities was every who desired
to speaS-to address the convention The subject as
signed TO mo. or the one l selected don't remember
iate JoPn hoe one OF the largest ana most lnpotht
OF ship builders at that time had lately been the
subject Of what was believed by many-mysef among
the be unjust persecution by the Navy De-
partment for political effect, confined remarks
to men, more particularly to him and as the Marine
Journal" of New York thought Il worth while to print
them in full will do so here and take the chances.
said;
"Mr. President: wish to say few words
in regard the relation Of the American ship
builder &c the question of government bounties
or subsidies in aid Of our merchant marine
need net at this time and in this presence, go
inf Ia 1efn n Tho U-naff erifi NOT
abuse which have, from time TO time, been di-
rocted against those Of our fellow citizens who
engaged in this important industry. one
conspicuous example only-and as shameful as it
is conspiouous--will allude TO.
A man, born foreign soil. realizing in his
youth the utter hopelessness of any effort 10 inn
prove his c6ndition in his native land surround
ed and environed by its customs Of caste and
class turned his face toward the West and came
to this country-where we are all hrst-cass
people IL choose be--with little but hon
est heart pair Of strong and willing hands
many done before him. And what noble
hght he madel What bright example Of the
possibilities Of American manhood he vast
What magnificent pattern and guide for the
young Of this country, the memory Of him
will ever remain! Step by STEP amid untold
difficulties and embarrassments. with patient in
dustry and answering integrity he struggled
head of Of the greatest ship building estab-
shments Of the counuyi honor to himself
and his posterity, and benehcence the
whole community in which he lived and worked.
Today doubt not many hard-handed Of
toll in the cities of New York and Chester
moist eyes toward Greenwood Cemetery
grateful and anectonate recollection OF John
Roach.
And yet this man, because he thoroughly be-
ieved IN his adopted country because, in his
broad view and long-range vision, he saw in her
present greatness only the fore shadowing and
promise Of what she is destined to become in the
future because he believed and dared to say
that it as the duty Of the government 10 aid by
bounty in building up our merchant marine, be-
he American and not English in his
ideas aud always possessed the courage Of his
convictions and was not afraid to express them.
this man. the latchet Of whose shoes many OF
then. arc not worthy to unloose, has been ridi-
newspapers and politicians from end OF this
country to the otherl Nay more Always
cognzing the conditions of fair and manly
test himself, in his old with gray hairs thick
uron him and his race nearly run, he was struck
foul blow which impaired his credit, swept
most of his fortune, broke his heart and
ended his useful and honorable life.
Such gentlemen this typical American
shp-bulder Not selfish, greedy grasping
monopolst as some whose highest ambition for
their country to be that it shall be simply
tender TO Great Britain, have tried 10 portray
him. And such were and are, his compeers and
survivors in the shp-buding business of this
country today and their traducers exhibit most
piutully their feeble intellectual capacity when
they attempt TO by their diminu-
tive standard men of large affairs and compre-
hensive ideas and charge that the ship builders
ask aid FOR American shipping interests only that
they may get higher prices for their ships and
Is il clear the at n-day that
If government bounty should bring about--as it
undoubtedly would bring about-inereased de-
mand for Amercan-bult ships, special favor
would oe conferred upon those who already
engaged in ship building? Would not the in
creased demand for ships invite new capital into
the business2 And would not ship yards
spring up fast and probably faster than the
demand would justify? And with this increased
facility for production would not the inevitable
law of supply and demand very regulate
the price Of ships and the pronts Of ship
builders just It does in every other business?
Has the tariff raised the price of steel rails and
enhanced tie profit Of the rail makers?
One hundred and sixty dollars ton for steel
rails I'm the year 1860 compared with twenty
eight dollars ton for them today does look
like iu The low price of steel rails today IS the
direct result Of our present tariff duty them
encouraging home competition in the manufac-
ture Of them--which always regulates the price Of
article OF domestic manufacture. And who
doupts that similar result would speedily fol-
low similar wise and benehcent legislation by
Congress In regard 20 American ships2
Sir, mean 70 say that the American ship
BUILDER is interested IN this great question which
has brought us together. from selfish