The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-02
0U.S GOODS
on SHIPS OF WAR
nmxensENeArsvn GDOnwIN HAS
PLAN FOR PRACTICAL USE
OF NAVAL VESSELS.
VISIT WORLD PORTS
OPPOSES ~sENSELEss MULTIPLTCA-
T1oN or uxELEss- VESSELS.
BUT WOULD USE THOSE
WE NOW HAVE.


can products housed and displayed on
American wzrships and carried TO the
worlds ports for the education Of
foreign peoples In what America has
to offer in trade is the plan proposed
in a bill which will be introduced in
the house of representatives tornor-
row by Representative w. S. Goodwin,
OF Arkansas
Representative Goodwin is peace
advocate of the whitest stripe. He Is
for disarmament first, last and all the
time. An assignment on the house
committee on foreign affairs. wh1ch
he held In the last congress, 1t Is Ger
tain. will be continued in the present
congress when the designations TO
committees are announced.
Space for exhibition purposes on
warshIps, according to his plan, ~ to
he leased to American producers and
exporters under direction OF the secre-
tAry of commerce. The secretaries Oh
the navy and commerce are to devise
rNrulations governing the installation
and exhibition of these commerciai
and manufacturing proaacis.
Provision of the Bill.
The bill, entitled "a bill To encour-
are American commerce with foreign
nations" provides:
That the secretary OF the navy Is
hereby directed within sixty DAYS
from the passage of this act TO report
10 the secretary of commerce the e&-
tart and character of all space upon
III ahtps of the United States navy
which might reasonably be Temporal
fry used for the purpose of exhibiting
American manufactured products ana
ether articles of commerce.
That upon the receipt OF the IN
to-, nm 4 baTanf
the secretary OF commerce shall aliot
.s,sch space to such American manu-
facturer1 merchants. exporters OF as
eociations thereof or other trade
bodies who may apply for the same.
ratAbly and eQuitably, with the idea
10 aRordinR the widest exhibitions of
various commercial and manufactur-
Ing Industries Of the United States.
THAT. on such space having been
allotted, the person. Arm, corporation,
board OF trade. association or other
trade organization shall he allowed
To install and maintain exhibits OF
manufactured products and articles of
commerce therein. subject 10 such
rules and regulations as may lie pro-
mulgated Jointly by the secretary of
the navy and the secretary of com
merce by and with the approval OF
the president Of the United States
For n Practical Use.
II am opposed to scnseless mu tipli-
cation Of useless hattleships. YET l
see no reason why those we have built
at so great expense should NOT te
used in advancing American trada be-
fore they rot and become junk. Our
strength and security lie not in bat
tleships and dreadnaughts so much
~ In our isolation. the absence of en-
tangling alliances and our peaceful
pursuits. All peoples are loking to
the United States to take the first step
toward disarmament
This moment. when Europe IL an
armed camp and England equips even
merchantmen with compliments OF
guns. would. to my mind. be a proper
time to set the wholesome example OF
converting costly and menacing en-
gines for war to the peaceful mission
az displaying American handicraft in
the worlds eager markets.
From latest available reports on
movements OF our navy 1t appears that
much time liz spent by battleships
cruisers ard gunboats in foreign ports
Yet trade reports show how compare
lively unknown are American goods In
these same ports frequented by Ameri-
can 'warships
Leaves Details to Experts.
ITO work out details Is a task left
6NtiFGty Win ShiHeu experts ana en-
Gfneer of our navy department
They are familiar with every cubic
inch ef space of every Vessel and know
TO what extent and for what purposes
employed. The practical business
sense OF our commerce department
will cooperate In this work.
The regulations formulated would
set out the nature OF exhibits and con-
ditioHs upon which such exhibits would
b Ieesived, 80 those who would avail
Of the service could obtain full instruc-
tfong. schedules OF the itinerary OF yes
GELS and detailed information as TO how,
when and where TO make application
for aliotments OF exhibition space. The
Z. consular service would cooperate 10
bring to the attention of foreign mer-
chants this innovation and arrange for
proper publicity.
THE commercial organizations
throughout the country will. ] am posi-
tive, appreciate readily the possibilities
navy would do well to aIalyxa this plan
carefully II they would take seriously
the recent remarks of Secretary DAN
ieis on the Importance of making the
navy popular Institution"