The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-09

/ tnAt WAS IN us WnelNtl OF tnalhtAtf
or OF intelligence. with sober enthusi-
asm and confidence In the principles
upon which we were acting which sus-
tanned rs at every step OF the difficult
passed from our hands II is now an
established part OF the legislation of
the country It's usefulness, its effects
will disclose themselves In experience.
What chiefly strikes us now. as we
/ look about Us during these closing
days OF a year which will be forever
memorable IN the history OF the world.
IL that we face new tasks have been
facing them these six months. must
face them In the months 10 come
face them without partisan feeling, like
men who have forgotten everything
but a common duty and the fact that
we are representatives OF a great peo-
pie whose thought is not OF Us but OF
! what America owes 10 herself and 60
all mankind in such circumstances as
these upon which we look amazed and
anxious,
War has interrupted the means 81
trade not only but also the processes
OF production In Europe IL Is destroy
ing men and resources Wholesale ana
upon a-sCAle unprecedented and appall-
ing, There is reason 10 fear that the
time is near. IL 10 be not already at
hand. when several OF the countries OF
Europe viii md "a difficult 20 do for
their people what they have hitherto
essential and fundamental things At
any rate they VIII need our help and
our manifold services as they have
never needed Them before and we
should be ready. more AZ and ready
than we have ever been
~ Is OF qual consequence that the
nations whom Europe has usually sup
piled with innumer able articles OF
manufacture and commerce Of which
they are in constant need and without
which their economic development
hats and stands sim can now get only
a small part of what they formerly
imported and eagerly look 10 us 10
supply their all but empty markets
This is particularly true or our own
~ Central and South America. Their
lines OF trade have hitherto run chiefly
athwart the seas, not To our ports but
20 the ports OF Great Britain and of
not stop TO inquire why, or 10 make
any comment on probable causes What
interests US just now is not the ex-
PLANTATION but the fact and our duty
and opportunity in the presence OF IL.
Here are markets which We must sup
ply and we must find the means OF ac-
ZION. The United States this great
pie for whom we speak and act, should
be ready, as never before TO serve it,
self and TO serve mankind: ready with
Its resources. Its energies its forces
button.
II is a very practical matter. a mat
ter or ways and means We have the
resources; but are We fully ready 10
what We have, have we the means at
hand TO distribute IL? We are not fully
ready; neither have We the means OF
are not fully able. We have the wish
TO serve and To serve greatly. gener-
ously but we are not prepared as we
should be We are not ready 20 mo-
biilze our resources AT once. We are
not prepared 10 use them Immediately
and at their best without delay and
without waste
To L Ma ~,
erred in the way In which we have
stunted and hindered the development
or our merchant marine. And now
when we need ships, We have not got
hated without end or conclusion. the
best policy 10 pursue with regard 10
the use OF the ores and forests and
water powers OF our national domain
in the rich states OF the west when we
should have acted and they are still
locked up. The key is stu turned upon
them, the door shut fast at which thou
sands OF vigorous men, fun OF initia-
tive. knock DANGEROUSLY for admittance.
The water power of our navigable
tsreams outside the national domain
also, even In the eastern states, where
We have worked and planned for gen
efauons, Is still not used as IL might
be, because we will and we won't; be-
cause the laws We have made do not
lntelligently balance encoufag ement
against restraint. We withhold by
regulation.
nave come TO ask you TO remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis-
sions, even at this short session OF a
congress which would certainly seem
10 have done all the work that could
reasonaoly be expected OF II. The time
and the circumstances are extraordin-
airy, and so must our anorts be also.
Merchant Marine.
In speaking OF the necessity OF a
merchant marine the president said:
a Pa 20 n.
the empty markets OF which / have
spoken IL we have not the ships? How
are We 10 build up great trade II we
nave not the certain and constant
means OF transportation upon which all
prontable and useful commerce de-
pends2 And how are we TO get the
ships IL we wait for the trade TO de-
eelop without them? To correct the
many mistakes by which we have dis
outraged and all but destroyed the
marine OF the country. to re-
trace the steps 9y which We have. IT
seems almost deliberately, withdrawn
our Nag from the seas. except where,
here and there, a ship OF war is hidden
10 carry X or some wandering yacht
displays IL. would take "A long time and
involve many detailed items OF legisla-
ton, and the trade which we ought i'm
TO handle would disappear
or ind other channels while we de-
The case is not unlike that which
US when our own continent
was 10 be opened up TO settlement and
and We needed long lines OF
railway, extended means OF transports-
tation prepared beforehand, IL develop
ment was not 10 lag intolerably and
wait tnterminably We lavishly sub
sldized the building OF transcontlnental
railroads. We look back upon that
with regret now, because the subsi-
dies led TO many scandals OF which
We are ashamed, but we know thas
the railroads. had TO be built, and IL
We had u 70 do over again we should
Of course. build them. but in another
way. Therefore | propose another way
OF providing the means or transpor-
tation, which must precede, not tard-
lily follow the development OF our
trade with our neighbor states Of Am
erica, IL may seem a reversal OF tho
natural order OF things, but IL is true,
that the routes OF trade must be ac-
tually opened-by many ships and reg
ular sailings and moderate charges
before streams OF merchandise VIII
flow freely and probably through
them.
Hence the pending shipping bill.
as yet passed by neither house
In my judgment such legislation
Is imperatively needed, and can not
wisely be postponed The government
must oren these gates OF trade, and
open them wide, open them before II
Is altogether profitable TO open them,
or altogether reasonable 10 ask private
capital 10 open them at a venture. IL
the field. IL should take
action TO make u certain that trans
portation at reasonable rates will be
promptly provided. even where the
carriage IL not at hrst profitable: and
then, when the carriage has become
sufficiently profitable TO attract and
engage private capital. and engage IL
I'm abundance. the government ought 10
withdraw. / very earnestly hope that
the congress will be OF this opinion,
and that both houses will adopt this
important bill.