Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-09
The Revival of Our Merchant Marine

There are growing lnQlcatlOnS lHdt
one of the live matters that will
claim the attention of Congress at
it's next session will be the pas
sage of legislation for the upbuild-
ing of the American merchant marine
1t is not creditable to this great and
progressive country that the larger
part of it's commerce is today carried
in foreign bottoms, making it necessa-
nv for us to send abroad annually ma
ny millions of dollars that might be
made a strong factor in our national
prosperity, if it could be kept at home
by being paid out to our own citizens.
No country in the world is better stu
ated to build it's own ships than is the
United States with it's long frontage
on two oceans, and it's wealth Of ma
tural resources The Journal has long
believed that the great and growing
commerce of the Republic should be
carried in American ships, built by
American mechanics in American
yards, manned by American seamen
and flying the stars and stripes. We
believe that Congress will be fully JUS
titled in the passage of whatever legis-
lation may be necessary to bring about
this highly desirable result Not only
would American mechanics, American
sailors and the great business interests
of the country be immensely benefited
by the building up, through proper en-
couragement, Of a merchant marine
commensurate with the needs of the
country, but the keeping at home of the
to foreign carriers would indirectly be
an element Of prosperity to all classes
of our citizens.
There is one phase of this question
that has been too often overlooked; but
which has, in years past, been shown
to be of vital Importance to the well
fare of the country. From the hardy
men Of our once flourishing merchant
marine were recruited in years past
the sailors who gave the country
prestige upon the ocean that COM
manded the respect of the whole world,
and was a factor in enabling us to cs-
tablish and maintain our independence.
Today the United States navy is find
ing it increasingly difficult to secure
the kind of men it desires to man it's
ships. About the only place in which
able seamen are now being developed
under our flag is on the vessels en-
gagged in deep-sea fishing and the num-
Der of these available in case of war is
altogether too small to meet, in any
considerable degree. the needs of the
service The inland states are clamor-
ing more and more for large ex-
penditures of the public funds
notably in the establishment of
large irrigation schemes. Far be
it from us to say that such expendi-
lures are not justified by the results
attained-and are not in line with a
wise, progressive national policy. The
time has come however, when the fact
should be brought home to the people
of these states that their interests are
not the only ones that merit fair and
generous consideration from the ma
tional government 1t is high time
that the representatives Of the sea-
board states join hands in saying:
I'VE too have interests of vast and far
reaching Importance. which you must
not ignore or turn down if you expect
our cooperation and support in your
| own matters"
We believe that there is today such a
| balance of interest between the inland
| and seaboard states. that the justice SO
long denied the shipping interests OF
the country is now within reach.