Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-02
COMESOUT STRONG
FOR SHIP SUBSIDY
Nh SEATTLE SPEECH HE TELLS
LARGEST AUDIENCE OF ENTIRE
TRIP THAT TRADE is ALL BUT
LOST FOR WANT OF BOATS.

ing as witness to parade of
bIooded stock In the livestock
show. On his way to the fair he
reviewed the school children of
Broadway high school. After
half hour at the stock show the
president and party were taken
to the Seattle Golf club, where
they spent five hours.
At 4 p. m. the president will de-
part for Tacoma on the private
yacht FL Primero, escorted by the
torpedo boat destroyer Perry.
Seattle. Wash. Oct. 1.--Speaking
! efore the largest audience he has
faced since his trip began-a crowd
that overflowed the natural amphi-
theater of tie Alaska Y Yukon-Paci ex-
position. with it's seating capacity of
nearly 10000, President Taft yester-
would urge in his coming message to
congress the enactment of ship Sub
sT-1dy law.
Mr.. Taft declared that the country
was ready to make such experiment
and that something must be done to
hn'ld up an American merchant ma.
Inc. His utterances on this subject
ere received with great acclaim.
When the president turned to Alas
Ea, however. and declared that he was
opposed to granting a territorial form
of government to that far-off posses
sion, the statemen. was received in
silence. AS the president proceeded,
however, and outlined his policy for
the upbuilding of Alaska, of recon-
mending government aid in the con-
struction of railroads, of q local gcr-
ernment by commission of five or
more members appointed by the presi-
dent and cooperating with the gov
ernor, and when he told of the great
possibilities that lie in Alaska, he
plainly caught the favor of his hearers
and was loudly cheered.
Later, when he was admitted to
membership in the Arctic Brother
hood, an international organization
aade up of Canadians and Americans
Interested in the development of Alas
"a, the president announced that he
intended to visit Alaska next sum-
mer and go as far into the territory as
dme would permit In order that he
might come into contact with the
people and see for himself what might
best be done for their welfare.
In discussing the ship subsidy, Pres
ldent Taft declared that if war
should ccme at this time. the United
States would not have enough vessels
to carry coal 10 it's fleets And it
would be doubtful, under the neutral
ity laws, he added, 4 the United
States would be able to buy foreign
Fessels in the emergency.
Urges Ship Subsidy.
On ship subsidy the president said:
II need not tell you of the made
luacy of the American shipping ma
rine on the Pacific coast and of the
growing commercial progress in this
regard of the empire of Japan. Japan
is one of the most active and gener-
ous countries in the matter Of subsi-
dies to its merchant marine and the
effect Is only too visible in an exam
Ination of the statistics.
For this reason 1t seems there is
no subject to which congress can bet
ter devote Its attention during the
coming session than the bill which
regulates our merchant marine in such
way as to establish American lines
between New York and other eastern
ports and South American ports and
between our Pacific coast ports and
the orient and the Philippines.
"We earn profit from our foreign
mails of from $6,0o0,OOO to $S,00O,OoO
o year. The appropriation of that
amount would be quite sufficient to put
on a satisfactory basis two or three
oriental lines and several lines from
the east to South America. OF course
we are familiar with the argument
that this would be a contribution TO
private companies out of the treasury
of the United States, but we are thus
contributing in various ways on SINH
lar principles in effect, both by our
protective tariff laws, by our river and
harbor bills and by our reclamation
service. We are putting money into
the pockets of ship owners. but we
are giving them money with which
they can complete for reasonable profit
only, with the merchant marine Of the
Eorld."