Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22

we do on ours. how long could sstiiev
continue In business? Not a year.
A home market is like huge snongf,
capable of enormous absorption. butsat
some time the point OF satLraton' is
reached, and when the sponge is once
saturated a whole ocean OF water. nsH
encompass IL. but II can absorb no more.
] is capacity for absorption has been
reached. Such is almost the condition OF
our own home market What follows:
II our manufacturers are to continue
TO be prosperous. IL they arc to con-
tinue regular employers of labor; for
$40 days in the year the export trade
OF manufact lred goods OF this country
must be increased TO a degree al least
proporsionate to that Of England, Japan
and Germany
Now. there is only one way in which
II is possible for such an export trade
to be enduringly maintained aud that
is by the simple process of providing the
nation with its own national delivery
wagons. In other words. by creating an
American merchant marine: not prima-
rily for the benefit of the shipping trade.
but for the benefit of the nations BUSH
ness as whole The next question is,
How can this be done?
II is obvious that an appeal from the
shipping interests of this country to
our national Legislature would be hone
less. IT would appear as an ex-parte APP
peal and would infallibly be regarded as
such.
When man discovers that he and his
family are harefooted. and that the rest
OF the civilized world is Using shoes in
order to walk the streets OF the city
his first impulse is TO provide himself
and his family with shoes. He does this
not because he wishes the seller Of Shoes
or the maker of shoes to profit thereby
He does II. because he finds II is an
imperative necessity to himself and his
FAMILY. IL he wishes to leave the con-
nnes or his own house and lot In order
10 walk the streets OF the cities. he and
MS family must have shoes
Streets of World Are Wide Seas.
Now. the streets of the world are the
wide seas. 1t is absolutely necessary for
the preservation OF our national com
,, meroial welfare that We also should
walk the streets of the earth. and "ships
are q nations shoes" IL Is true thar
We have a good supply OF national slip.
pers, With which We pass around the
edges Of our own domain. and thereby
facilitate our interdepartmental swan
ping OF tacknives. But Of real shoes -
py which or course I mean our overseas
or foreign going ships. we have prac-
tically none
every branch OF our commerce. and af-
Feet every laborer. farmer Midland.
manufacturer and merchant I'm our land
The whole question, therefore, must be
from or by the shipping interests. for
remedial legislation. 1t must be recog-
MED by and assumed by the nation at
large.
formed entitled THE National Marine
League. having its headquarters in
washington, d. c., as representing NO
one state or group of states in particular.
| no one or group of interests" but the
| imperative necessities and the united
sentiment of the nation at large
The National Marine League is enter
ing upon long and arduous campaign
OF public education. 1t is itself man,
uiacturer-a manufacturer of public
opinion. It is impossible to obtain ade-
quate legislation Of an enduring nature
unless there is behind it a united and
enduring public opinion. Our legislators
are not only nominally, but really, rep
permanently affects or should affect a
representative Or senator in Congress is
the public sentiment of the constituency
which he represents.
Hence. the necessity of a campaign OF
education and information on this great
question. 1t Is perfectly right and an
honorable thing to lay question before
the people for them to decide and then
10 pass on to their respective senators
ana representatives for action.
IL 10 not always right nor always hon.
orable to attempt legislation by the IA
mtliar process OF lobbying
| l refer to this because any league or
association having it's headquarters i'm
Washington is liable to have imputed TO
| 1t the desire to attempt the influencing
OF legislation by means of appeals made.
to senator's and representatives. Such
Is not the purpose of the National Ma
Appeal Direct to Voters.
Its appeals will be made direct to the
voters of this country. The aid that
senator's and representatives can afford
| by helping the discussion OF this ques-
ton among their own people back
home" is invaluable but the pressure
| upon them for adequate remedial legis-
lation will not come from this league,
| but from their own people all over the,
United States
The initial funds for artipg the work
! of the National Marine League have here
, tofore been provided by the writer and
his personal friends. but the league it,
self must eventually be maintained by
the people at large, or a non-partisan
ba sis.
1t will require $f0O. 900 before a general
and broadcast appeal can be made to the
public at large In other words. the av-
erage citizen will not be asked by public
advertisement to contribute one dollar, to
the funds of the National Marine League
until at least 100000 has been subscrib,
ed. in sums Of varying amounts, by such
persons as can easily afford to do So
without the slightest Inconvenience To
themselves. Such persons will be desig-
mated. as indeed they will be. Founders
OF the National Marine League" and this
designation will cease to be employed SD
soon as the first 100000 has been do
mated. Thereafter the affairs of the
league will be under the business control
of the founders" and their successors
In Office. on much the same lines as tha
administration of the Carnegie peace an
dowment fund
Any persons who wish to know more of
the details OF the National Marine League
are invited to correspond with the writer.