The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1910-03-02
HELMS'S STRONG SPEECH.
Vigorously Opposes Pending
Bill on Ocean Mail Sub
sidy--Our Diplomacy
Faulty.
Kentuckian Declares Ship Sub
sides VIII Not Bring De-
sired Results.
IBy Associated Press.l

Washington, d. c., Feb. 24-Yigor-
ously opposing mail steamship subsi-
dies, Representative Helm, of Kentucky,
in speech in the House today, declared
that the United States government was
being converted into a gigantic pawn
brokers' shop for the purpose of extend
ing trade He insisted that subsidies
had not built up the maritime interests
of the United States.
II do not subscribe 10 that course or
policy that would convert this govern
ment into a gigantic pawnbroker's shop
in order to acquire trade" declared Mr..
Helm. 81 do not think we are materi-
ally improving our trade relations with
Central and South America by attempt
ing to put men selected at Washington
in control of the governments of certain
of these countries. In my opinion it
will require something more than subSi-
dy to overcome the adverse feeling en-
gendered by our present policy in that
zone of the Western Hemisphere which
should be our best market:
Il am apprehensive that the good eff
fects of former Secretary Roots visit tC
the Central and South American repub-
lies, looking to closer and more cordial
relationships with these governments,
has been largely discounted by our more
recent domineering policy there. feal
some plumbers and mistakes have beer
made. That quarter of the globe is OF
the eve of great development, from
which we are in position to reap some o.
the benefits, and | surely believe thai
the Root policy will yield us better re
turns than the coercive policy"
Tariff laws, Mr. Helm declared, hat
made the United States dear market
1T is as unreasonable, he added
''for us TO expectsthe foreigner to pur
chase in protected market, where The
seller insists on his profits that arise by
operation of law, as it is to expect the
individual to do his shoppinGyat tn,
highest priced store in any given locality
''The report of the Commissioner o.
Navigation shows that we have tire,
subsidized lines on the Caribbean route
and the full, complete and final answer
to all arguments in support of subsid,
as trade producer, is that notwith
standing these subsidized lines, on
trade in that sphere has decreased in
stead of increased"
Mr.. Helm concluded his remarks by
declaring his opposition to subsidy o
any kind.
The applause that greeted Mr.. Helm
when he first arose evidenced the .higl
esteem in which he is already helC
among the older members. The inter
est and applause accorded him through
out was evidence of the worth of hi.
speech, which was about an hour il
length. Mr.. Helm has seldom talked
except to answer roll calls (he claims L
have answered more than any othel
member who has been there less thar
three years. but when he does talk, h,
evidently studies and prepares what h,
has to say. This was even more evi
dent in his speech of last Thursday
than it was in his speech on the tariff
at the extra session. His position OF
the lnsular Affairs Committee has given
him an opportunity to study the mail
subsidy grab in all its phases, and he
has improved said opportunities.
Mr.. Helm arrived home Saturday ia
attend the meeting of the district Con-
| gressional committee at Nicholasville
on Thursday: HE says he has confidence
in the wisdom of the committee and
is only asking them to give him a pri-
mary in which all of the Democratic
voters can have a say, and which will be
fair to as many or as few as want TO run
against him for the nomination.-Sta
ford Interior Journal