Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-20
SENATOR GALLNGER
tcersia.sd from Pep. One,


son desire to explore uncharted
grounds liz best set forth IN recent
communication by Senator Galimger
to the New York Sun. 1t is admitted
everywhere that no man in the United
States is so well informed upon this
subject as Senator Gallinger. He
said:
That zeal for the creation OF an
American merchant marine now being
displayed by certain Democratic lead
ers comes too late. it has too much
suggestion Of deathbed repentance
about it.
Where was the Democratic party
when the fight was being made in
Congress during the past ten years
for our own steamship lines to South
America, Australasia and the Orient ?
The pages Of the Congressional Record
show the Democracy in Senate and
House aligned in almost solid. stub
born opposition. A few courageous
Democrats did attempt to put patriot
ism above party, but most of them
were quickly cowed by the party whip.
On one occasion, after a shipping bin
had passed the Senate and with
amendments which the Senate would
have concurred in had also passed the
House il was filibustered to death
in the Senate Chamber. under the lead
ership Of the late Senator Carmack Of
Tennessee, with the enthusiastic ap-
prevail of nearly all Of his Democratic
colleagues.
But for that Democratic filibuster,
the sole beneficiaries of which were
the European steamship combinations
that shortly after we're under investi-
cation by Democratic House COM
mittee and prosecution by the Federal
courts, there would now be first class
American steamship services to Bra
zil. Argentina, Chile and Peru. and
European maritime monopoly HoulA
have lost its. power to strange the
commerce of the American people. In
the crisis Of that contest between
American interests and European in
terests it was the party Of President
Wilson. Of Secretary McAdoo. OF the
victory to Europe.
The present Secretary Of the Treas
ury was not at that time conspicuous
in our national public life, but he
ought not to be unaware Of recen:
Democratic history. Not only did the
Democratic party as whole in Con-
gress fight with true Bourbon faulty
every remedial shipping measure pro-
puted by the Republicans. but even
when the Democratic national plat
form on which President Wilson was
elected in 1912 declared for a return
to the constitutional regulation" of
preferential duties and this policy Of
the fathers Of the republic was actu-
ally embodied in the Democratic tariff
law of 1913 that platform pledge was
broken and the legislation nullified by
Executive direction. on the command
Of Secretary McAdoo himself, at the
first sign Of displeasure fDm Euro
pean Governments.
In view Of his own party's record of
hostility ont Of power and of impo-
tence in power it scracely behooves
the present Secretary at the Treasury
to accuse thu RGpAbiacans + RESPONSE
bility for the deplora bic weakness of
our merchant marine. We at least
made vigorous and persistent efforts
to save the situation. and were baff1ed
in small part by the detection Of a
few middle Western men of our own
party, but in chief part by a blind
Democratic opposition from North.
South. East and West alike
Now the Democratic Administration.
with this black party record behind il.
again proposes the qsack nostrum of
Government ownership in desperate
it's own Grass laundering. Secretary
McAdoo the other day in a letter to
a Southern commercial organization
declared that I'VE cannot afford 10
enter upon the scandalous policy of
subsidizing private corporations and
individuals" Mr.. McAdoo expressed
q similar view some months ago in
advocating his Government ownership
scheme at the annual meeting in
Washington Of the Chamber Of Com
merce of the United States. There
upon this great national chamber in
stituted a referendum among the local
boards Of trade and chambers Of COM
merce of the entire country, with the
Illuminating result that the boards
and chambers Of the Democratic
South. Mr.. McAdoo's own section,
voted more than so per cent. against
Government ownership and So per
cent. in favor Of subsidies. Verify is
this prophet without honor among his
own people. .l
A subsidy has been sought by Re-
publicans for two purposes-arst. to
Offset foreign subsidies. as on mail
lines: second. to Offset lower foreign
wages and standards Of living. Mr..
McAdoo's own Government ownership
scheme calls for a corporation with
$50 zoe. 600 Of Federal money to buy
or charter ships and $4,000 oe more
as capital. to operate them. Though
Mr.. McAdoo may not realize it, this
is subsidy and nothing else. The
American ships OF this Government
corporation. meeting foreign ships op-
Grated at less cost because Of foreign
subsidies or low wages, or of both
combined, win inevitably be operated
at a loss, which at the end Of the year
will be made up out of the national
Treasury. Thus these Government
owned American ships at least will
be subsidized in fact IL not in form.