The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-02-12
FIGHT IS SURE
ON SHIP SUBSIDY
Congress and Country Divided
Over the Measure Urged by
President Taft.
MIDDLE WEST OPPOSED TO IT
presidential Possibilities for 1912
Already Being Considered In
Washington-cemocrats Favor
Gov. Harmon of Ohio.

/
Washington-cemocrats Favor
Gov. Harmon of Ohio.
Wash1ngton.-When President Tai
was In the northwest he made a ple;
ior the passage of ship subsidy Law
At this winters session of CONGRESS
II seems to be assured that the sen
ate VIII sanction the legislation which
the president has asked, but there /,
stiii strong doubt whether the house
VIII agree to put the measure through
Among the representatives the sen
ument for and against ship subsidy
seems to be about equally divided. II
anything relating to ships can be said
70 have hard shedding, the measure
which would grant the subsidy for the
upouilding of the meeeAane unflnl
certainly has had it for some years
The, difficulty that lies in the way OF
legislation the object of which is SUD
posed to be to make the American
nag more frequent sight on the high
seas, is that the country has been
divided against itself on the PROPOSE
ton. The great middle west seems in
the main to have been opposed to pay
ing out government money for what
some people have declared to be the
interests of the ship builders. On the
coasts east and west there has been
strong desire to have congress take
action. When the fight comes of in
the house 1t will be In the nature of
civil warfare with section against
section. There will be no blood shed.
but there will be some strong words
and challenging of motives in plenty.
Humphrey Bill introduced.
The bill which has been introduced
by Representative Humphrey of Wash
ngton is the one about which the
forces favorable to ship subsidy win
rally. and against which its opponents
VIII array themselves. In brief. the
bill provides for money to be paid for
carrying the mails in ships built in
America. The bill of course provides
much more than this. 1t has provis-
Ions which it is supposed will provide
nucleus for an increased American
navy In time of war, and it makes
provision also for adding TO the nayy's
strength in time of trouble the sail
,rs who are trained on the marine |
ships carrying the stars and stripes.
The campaign in favor of ship sub i
my has been a most vigorous one in |
many ways. A publication called |
The American Flag" has been sent
'roadcast filed with arguments in ia
'or OF the measure which is now be-
ore congress. On the other hand the
majority OF the Democrats in house
nd senate, and with them a goodiy
lumber OF Republicans have de-
iounced every proposition to subsi-
ize ship builders, for this is what the
opponents of the bill say that it
mounts to.
IL the measure should became a Law
'merican ocean mail carrying steam
RS probably would be built on both
casts to carry postal matter to South
Imerican and to some parts of the
r1ent. The amount of money paid
'r carrying the mail would be sui.
cient inducement to build American
essels which would carry not only
le mail, but merchandise and very
kelly passengers.
Inc prospect of the debates on the
oor OF house and senate on this
lestion is bright with the promise of I
pod speeches for and against the
easure, and of sharp exchanges
hich will interest the galleries, and
re country when the words have
zen reduced to written form.
Looking Forward to 1912.
Presidential politics" in Washing i
q are lost to sight, If not to interest. j
only about one year after the ma =
'nal election. Already the Demo n
ats and Republicans in official life I
the capital are beginning to look r
rward to 1912 and to guess. and e
en- to prophesy. as to whom the p
ieftains of the two parties win be t
the struggle Of tina. year. r.
Naturally much of the interest CEN r;
8 about the chances which the pres d
mt has to succeed himself. One o.
'at section of the Republican party d
Ems to be well satisfied with the II
career so far. while an p
ler section. while admitting willing to
IS to wait before passing final judg-
mt. seems to think Mr.. Taft is nota-
like as aggressive as he ought to &c
In view Of the fact that he said al
would carry out the legislative pol m
Is OF his predecessor. tr
ne Progressive Republicans in ar
Use and senate, most of whom come III
m the west will not yet say one Re
"a as to the probabilities of the re- III
nination of President Taft three tn
rs hence. They declare that the st,
t president will be progressive so
real kind, presumably the Roose- tn
kind. though no one yet has the an
Gritty to take it for granted that tn
mighty African hunter would CON IN,
A.