The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-28
THE PRESIDENTS OBsTINACY,

When the European war broke out
great interest was manifested In the
shippins problem. and in the excite
ment OF the hour Wild schemes we're
preached for supplying a supposed de-
ficfency In ships to transport our
merchandise Government aid was
popular. and the President and Con-
Eress readily responded to the prop
osition. and measures were proposed
for restoring our merchant marine"
The President had his heart set on
a measure OF his own. but when the
country cooled down after fits spasm
Of concern. and Il was shown there
was no necessity for additional ships:
that our harbors were congested with
them. idle for lack OF cargoes. reason
resumed Its sway. and Congress
shelved the administration shipping
bill This was highly displeasing to
the President. who even went so far
In his disappointment as to accuse
special interests OF undue influence
on Congress. President Wilson now
proposes to revive his government
ownership line plan at the coming
session OF Congress. 1t is a singular
piece Of obstinacy on his part. Not
only was 1t shown that the govern
ment should not establish a practical
monopoly OF the ocean carrying trade
as against private enterprise. which
was capable OF handling the business,
but that government owned ships sail
Ing the high seas would be a constant
danger to involving the government in
trouble with the belligerent powers.
Recent Washington dispatches have
detailed the Presidents reasons for
insisting that Congress shall prompt
ly pass the measure that was passed
over at the last session. In which Il
was stated that he believes the gov
ernment should take the opportunity
offered by the European war to pio-
neer new trade routes for American
ships. He feels certain there are nu.
merous lanes OF trafic that would not
pay at first. but could be developed
into valuable additions to American
commerce. Private concerns. he feels,
Will be slow to engage in ventures
along routes that viii not yield imme.
date returns. The government could
and should develop those routes. the
President thinks. and surrender them
later to private companies. IL that
should be deemed advisable"
The Intelligencer does not profess
to possess expert Judgment in ship
ping matters. but It can see in ali
this another distinct reputation OF
the much repudiated Baltimore plat
form. which specifically denounces
subsidy in any form. disguised as 4,
is in the Presidents suggestions. The
New York Times. a strong pro Wilson
paper. is utterly opposed to the Presi
dents contentious. and is quite i'm
pressive IN its comments on the ad
ministration's scheme. when Il says
There r. nothing 20 support the idea
mat under equality OF conditions the
government could make a profit where
private capital would not venture m
tnere - q fair chance OF profit private
capital VIII find ~ out sooner and more
sursiJ. tnan tho Government. The only
Heto TOT the proposal n the fact that
the Government has passed laws which
make private shipping unprofItabie
NoN tne government - 20 assume the
task Of a certain loss rather than ropeal
tne bad laws. The only result would b.
.nat the Government would run the
INES ~ greater loss than private
manAgernent. and the deficit would b
concealed and transferred 70 the tar.
peysrs- cheap freights cannot be de-.
stI-u on sucn terms ~ anybody except
nose whose goods are carried Tor
every ton carried by a Government shia
~ - sure mat many tons would Iart
carriage through the dlscoura rernenf III
American and neutral shipping By Gov
eminent competition on such une0ual
terms. ~ u odd that such n proposal III
subsidy In disguise should come from
the leader Of party immernorfaiiv on
posed % n subsidy Forfurafcfg ~
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