Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-05
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF BROKEN
PROMISES.

Newport News. as the home OF one
of the greatest shipbuilding plants OF
the world and as a seaport. is pecu-
liarlv interested In the upbuilding OF
the American merchant marine.
Therefore. on the eve OF congress
sional election. II Is particularly APP
propriate 10 call attention TO what
the Republican party has not done to
aid In the rehabilitation of that great
national asset, the loss OF which the
party in convention assembled has
so regularly and with such Impressive
language lamented.
Those who heard Congressman VIII
liam A. Jones at the city hall Thurs
day evening know the story. which
would be humorous II the matter were
not too serious TO be laughed at.
Mr.. Jones had with him copies OF
the merchant marine "planks" OF the
national platforms adopted by the Re-
publican party in the past eighteen
years. In 1892 the party went on rec
ord with great solemnity eand bonn
bast as favoring the enactment Of leg
isiation tending to restore the lost
American merchant marine. Four
years later, in 1896, another national
convention made another declaration
70 the same effect, couched in even
mere high-sounding phrases. Then
came the convention of 1900, which
told most beautifully OF the desire
and determination OF the great Re
publican party to see the stars and
stripes restored to its former prestige
on the seas. In 1904 another coast
line vote catcher was inserted after
much the same fashion. And in 1908
the Chicago convention reminded the
c6untry that I'VE adhere to the Repub-
lican doctrine" OF upbuilding the
American merchant marine.
II Is unnecessary to point out that
during all of these eighteen years the
Republican party has done nothing
toward fulfilling this oft-repeated
promise Congress after congress
had met and spent billions of dollars
and enacted bills by the carload. but
not one thing has been done for
American shipping The party has
lamented nightly in national conven-
ton over the loss Of American pres
tiFe on the high seas. but the mourn
ing invariably mas been laid aside
after election day. Measures purport-
ing TO have been drawn for the pur-
pose of aiding in putting American
built. American owned and American
manned ships In the overseas trade
have been introduced by Republican
congressman. II is true, bur almost
without exception these bills have
been drafted for exhibition uses only.
Nearly all Of them have been in The
interest of private enterprises and
have containes provisions that made
their passage impossible, a. even
their designers must have known full
well. And during the last session,
xhen an ocean mail bill. which woulc
have aided American shipping and
shipbuildine. and which many per
sons informed on the subject ssn
cerely believed vas not in conflict
with public interests generally. hs
Republican majority failed to adOp;
Tive Democrats. Mr.. Jones and Cap
tain Hcbson, favored the measure and
rs Mr Jones says. the Republican,
voaid ike 20 lay the blame for ~
defeat Upon them because they Oh
not ger other Democratic voies. tn
Republicans did their pari when the
adopted the Chicago platform. pas
experience showed that they coui
not be expected 70 do more.
Es>hfeer years OF bombastic prom
isss pufulhIledi Ard yet 'his Repu'
iicsr party has the sudscify'to tai
about ~sdaeriag % TIE Repuolics
doctrine etc.
II would have been bad enough Ia
TIE Democratic party b~en respvnisbl
for TIE dounszIl Of the American me-
ctznf marine and the Republicans ha
r~re;y fsn>s - srihs sbrr the mo-
desired rebssiIisssivn. Il Is . nstt'