Warren sheaf., 1910-05-19
PENToN's PAINFUL PATRIOTISM

1.-THE investigation of the Merchant
Marine League has developed some
ludicrous facts-and others that are
not so humorous. President Penton,
of the League of which the American
Flag is the mouthpiece waxed elo- !
duent when on the witness stand in !
regard to his patriotism. He firmly
worshipped the flag and would grovel
In the dust rather than have the flag
tainted in any way or disgraced. For
thoroughbred patriotism and love of !
the stars and stripes, Penton was a
real wonder-the real Simon pure
article. What shame that it de- ,
veloped that with all this great meas
ure of patriotism and devotion Penton |
had to admit on the witness stand
that he was not even a citizen of
the United States-was still subject
of King Edward of England. Oh such
devotion to the interests of the United
States and such unselfish love of the
flag! Should not his every act be
upheld as that of disinterested pa
triot without the inconvenience and
humiliation of an investigation?
The investigation of the Merchant
Marine League has developed further
that seven of the fifteen members of
it's executive committee are owners
of iron mines in the Lake Superior
region The other eight are engaged
in the transportation of iron ore on
the lake or in rolling mills of kindred
branches which deal with the market
ing of the metal. The Humphrey bill,
backed by the League, raises from
6 to IL cents the tonnage tax on int
ported iron ore, with a few notable
exceptions. These exceptions include
Cuba, where ore beds are owned and
developed by the Bethlehem Steel
Company and the Pennsylvania Steel
Company. 1t is said that the United
States Steel corporation also owns
undeveloped beds of ore in Cuba.
This six per cent raise on ore inn
ported from these countries only
where the steel corporations have no
holdings, helps materially to make up
for the reduction of duty on ore from
40 to Is cents a ton in the new tariff
act. Thus yrpne of the few attempts
to stop he huge trust gains is sought
to be negatived. ~.@ s:.
The first section of the Humphrey
bill reported by the house committee,
January Oath, provides that subsidy
shall be paid by American steam YES
sells, between the United States and
the Philippines and other parts i'll
1000 mile radius. The second Sec
tion provides that a tonnage of II
cents ton be charged on every entry
of any vessel from foreign ports into
the United States irrespective of ma
tionality, except when the vessels ply
between the United States and the
West Indies, Newfoundland, Bermuda,
the Bahamas, Central America and
Caribbean sea ports. Under Payne
Aldrich and the Dingley tariff bills
vessel entering the United States pay
six cents a ton. If the Humphrey
bill is passed, boats carrying such
cargoes as silk or valuables will not
notice the double rate, but in the
case Of metal cargoes the tonnage tax
of ~ cents will be an item of con-
trolling Importance. The result will
be a cessation of importation of such
articles as ore to the benefit of the
steel trust and it's allies. The Mer-
chant Marine League claims to be a
patriotic organization, whose devotion
to the cause of the country's welfare
and prosperity has been the only rea-
son for it's existence, but evidently
Congressman Steenerson has prie0
off the lid and exposed to the public
gaze another scheme by which the
big corporation hoped to pick the
pockets Of the people, and that too
under the cloak Of patriotism and q
loud and persistent hurrah for the
American flag, etc. It would almost
seem as though something's ought to
be too sacred to be used for the COW
ering up of attempts to rob the public,
but it seems not to be with those
people. All they care for the Ameri-
can flag is when there is an appro-
priation wrapped up in it. Through
his exposure Of this organization
Congressman steenerson is gaining q
national reputation, and is being talk
ed Of all over the country as one Of
the big men in congress. Crookston
Morning Times, May