Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-20
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--Democrats Favor
Gov. Harmon Of Ohio.

Washington.-When President Taft
was in the northwest he made a plea
for the passage of a ship subsidy law
at this winters session Of congress.
II seems to be assured that the sen
ate Will sanction the legislation which
the president has asked. but there is
Sill strong doubt whether the house
VIII agree to put the measure through.
Among the representatives the sen.
timent for and against ship subsidy
seems to be about equally divided. II
anything relating to ships car be said
70 have hard shedding, the Measure
which would grant the subsidy for the
upbuilding of the merchant marine
certainly has had II for some years.
The difficulty that lies in the way Of
legislation the object OF which Is sup.
posed to be to make the American
nag q 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
q strong desire to have congress take
action. When the fight comes of In
the house 1t will be in the nature of
q civil warfare with section against
section. There will be no blood shed,
Dut there will be some strong words
ana challenging of motives in plenty.
Humphrey Bill introduced.
n bill which has been introduced
by Representative Humphrey of Wash.
lngton Is the one about which the
forces favorable to ship subsidy will
rally. and against which It's opponents
Will 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
o nucleus for an increased American
navy In time OF war, and It makes
provision also for adding to the navy's
strength In time of trouble the sail
ors who are trained on the marine
ships carrying the stars and stripes.
The campaign In favor of ship sub.
sidy has been 9 most vigorous one In
many ways. A publication called
Inc American Flag" has been sent
broadcast filled with arguments In IA.
Vor OF the measure which is now be-
tore congress. On the other hand the
majority OF the Democrats In house
and senate, and with them a goodly
number of Republicans have de-.
nounced every proposition to subsi.
nize ship builders. for this is what the
opponents Of the bill say hat It
amounts to.
II the measure should became a law
american ocean mail carrying steam
ers probably would be built on both
coasts to carry postal matter to South
American and to some parts OF the
orient. The amount of money paid
Tor carrying the mail would be SUI.
hcient i~nducement to build American
vessels which would carry not only
the mail, but merchandise and very
likely passengers.
The prospect of the debates on the
floor OF house and senate on this
question is bright with the promise OF
good speeches for and against the
measure. and of sharp exchanges
which Will interest the galleries, and
the country when the words have
been reduced to written form.
Looking Forward to 1912.
presidential politics" in Washing.
ton are lost to sight, II not to interest,
Tor only about n year after the ma.
tional election. Already the Demo
Gratis and Republicans In official life
In the capital are beginning to look
forward to 1912 and to guess, and
even to prophesy. as to whom the
chieftains of the two parties will be
In the struggle OF that year.
Naturally much Of the interest cen.
ters Dol the chances which the pres.
'dent has to succeed himself. One
great section OF the Republican party
seems to be well satisfied with the
presidents career SO far. while an.
other section. while admitting willing.
ness to wait before passing anal judg.
ment, seems to think Mr.. Taft is moth.
ing ike as aggressive as he ought To
De In view OF the fact that he said
ne would carry out the legislative moi.
lcies OF his predecessor.
The Progressive Republican, IN
mousse n senate. most of whom come
from the west, will not yet say one
~oro as TO the probabilities OF the re.