Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-05
Duty of Maine Regarding
Shippinq.

1--WE believe" declares the Denver
democratic platform, Sin the upbuild-
ing of the American merchant marine
without new or additional burden up
on the people and without bounties
from the public treasury"
This means but one thing The de-
NAL of all the appeals of the people
of Maine for ship subsidy, the deter
mination of the Democratic party that
the merchant marine is to be permit
ted to die an unnatural death, that it
is to be afforded no aid against the in
c1easing competition of government
subsidized ships in a struggle that is
already practically hopeless.
This decision by the Democratic par
ty ought to rally the Democrats of
Maine to an opposition to the Bryan
platform which thus strikes down one
of the chief industries of the State. In
stead of bread the Democracy offers
the Democrats of Maine stone.
The Democrats of Maine will not
stand for this sort of a policy. Ship
subsidy is bound to come into sharp
discussion the very day that campaign
orators take the stump and it is an
absolute impossibility for any Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress to go
before the people of Maine in the face
of such d platform as this and speak
for the upbuilding of American ship
ping.
In contra distinction to this let us
call your attention to the Chicago plat
form of 1908 which says 1--WE adhere
TO
couragement to American ship build
ing and urge such legislation as will
revive the merchant marine prestige
of the country SO essential to national
defense, the enlargement of the foreign
trade and the industrial prosperity OF
our own people"
This refers specifically, it may be
understood to Mr.. Roosevelt's policy.
which every American knows to be
aggressively on the side of the ship
subsidy.
But this is not all. In Mr.. Taft's
letter Of acceptance he spoke directly
saying that lie believed that the only
method of building up a business in
foreign shipping is in the form of a
mail subsidy. Mr.. Taft said
"The mere statement of things act
ually done by this administration at
home in our dependencies, and in for
eign affairs shows marvel of success
| full accomplishment, and if ever a par
| ty has entitled itself to the approva
| of it's works by a renewed mandate OF
power from the people whom it served
| it is the Republican party in the pres
| ent campaign.
| The only respect in which nothing
has been done is in the development O
our foreign marine. AS long as we up.
hold the system of protection for oul
home industries we must recognize
that it is inapplicable to assist those
of our citizens engaged in the foreign
shipping business, because there is NJ
| feasible means of excluding foreign
competition and that the only othe
method of building up such a business
| is by direct aid in the form of a mai
subsidy l am in favor of the bill con
| sidered in the last Congress as a ten
tative step. The establishment of di
rect steamship lines between our At
lantic ports and South America woult
that might be made far greater. o.
the Pacific, the whole shipping trad
threatens to pass into the control o
Japan. Something ought to be done
ard the bill which failed was a ste
in the right direction.