Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-28

and Mississippi rivers and no man VINO
lives in the vicinity of these rivers has
had his conscience to move him to pro-
test-except that we would not give him
more
1--WE give millions of subsidy through
the A Agricultural Department to the farm
ing industry, but it is not matter or
record that any grange organization mas
ever protested against this subsidy, and
the high-minded statesman from the mid
die west who is opposed to assisting our
merchant marine because ship has NOT
yet been invented that can sail through
cornfield demands this subsidy for farm
ing with a hunger that knows no satisfy
ing. Congress gives subsidy to destroy
teh cotton boil weevl in the south and to
protect the surrounding country from the
overflow of the Mississippi river.
THE democratic party has never voted
against either of these subsidies. The
democratic party has never voted, at any
time or at any place under any circum-
stances, against any subsidy that was 10
be spent exclusively south of the Mason
and Dixon line. For years the democrats
in Congress voted for and lOb'5ted for a
direct subsidy 10 the Southern railroad
even when the Postmest General said
that it was useless expenditure, and
even the railroad admitted the fact.
we pay vast subsidy today to dis
tribute our mails In this country upon
the land by rural routes and by star
routes. We pay far more for this service
than the government receives for main
tanning it, but no man has protested.
Where the Money Goes.
1.-THE United States today pays the
greatest mail subsidy of any nation on
earth. Yes, 1t pays a mail subsidy great
er than that paid by all other nations of
the world combined.
1T pays this subsidy direct out of the
national Treasury. the money of the
people 1t pays it to special industry. 1t
pays it to make an Improbable business
q profitable one.
This nation pays annually direct from
the national Treasury a mail subsidy Of
but to our magazines. 1t costs nine times
as much to carry the magazines of this
country as the publishers pay for the
service they receive.
Il am not now contending that this
subsidy is wrong or that it is right but
think of the hXpocritical assurances Of
the editors of these publications in de-
nouncing the system of subsidy as a
graft and as special privilege, and
as giving the peoples money to the in
were compelled to practice what they
preach there would not be another edi-
torial in a single magazine in America
denouncing the system Of subsidy.
Many years OF experience and obser-
walton have taught me the difference be-
tween a wise "a needful expenditure of
the public H.. :. and a subsidy steal. as
defined by Ia voice and the action of
those in this country who are opposed
to ship subsidy 1t is wise expenditure
of public money if l get it, 1t is a SUBJ
sidy steal if you get it.
And l challenge any man in America,
either in Congress or out of Congress-,
democrat. republican or hybrid. who OPP
poses ship subsidy, to stand up and apply
this rule to his record and then deny that
1t does not correctly take his measure.
Only Industry Not Protected.
Shipping is the only industry that does
not receive the protection OF the govern
ment. If protection is right. then it cam
mands that we protect all or that we pro-
tect none.
1.-The only way to protect our merchant
marine is by government assistance.
either direct or indirect. from the national
Treasury. This is the only way We can
establish a merchant marine 1t is the
only way that any other nation of the
earth has secured merchant marine.
I'VE are the richest nation in the world.
We have the greatest commerce in the
world. We can pay the greatest subsidy
of any nation in the world. Ii is GER
tainly worth as much to us to keep our
flag. upon the ocean as it is worth to
other nations to drive it from the ocean.
And l believe that the American peo-
pie are in favor of paying sufficient
subsidy. however great 1t may be, to re-
store the ancient prestige and the great
ness and glory OF our merchant marine, to
cause our ships once more to travel the
highways OF the ocean, our sails to
whiten every sea and our flag to shadow
all the ports of the world.