The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-01-20
SHIP SUBSIDY

The Democratic party has been on
record in all of its party declarations as
being opposed to ship subsidy. There
is bill pending before Congress now,
the object OF which, is to put the United
States Government in the role of ship
owners for the purpose of carrying on
an ocean commerce. The proposition
boiled down is nothing more than the
ownership of railroads and all public
utilities kby the general government
The immensity Of the project, its rami-
fication and its various phases, means
nothing but the total destruction of
local self government and complete
humiliation of the beloved doctrine OF
states rights, making the government
centralized government directed from
Washington.
If the government can legitimately
engage in ocean commerce, it can own
and control the public utilities through
out the nation. Tie plan urged by the
President of making the government
the pioneer to build up a merchant
marine, and after it has succeeded in
establishing it firmly and on a paying
basis, to withdraw from the same and
turn it over to individuals, strikes
sensible men at the first blush as
piece of stupendous folly. If the gov
eminent must be made the goat and
must establish the way until it is made
profitable, why should it then withdraw
from it and turn it over to individuals
Again why should those desiring to ex-
port and import products by way OF the
ocean and the ship carrying methods be
given the protection of the United
States Government and the benefit Of
the United States Government losse:
incurred, when very much larger
per cent Of the people carrying on the
domestic and foreign commerce by way
of the railroads must foot their owl
bills and sustain their own losses ant
have no government protection?
Years ago when Mr.. Bryan returned
from Europe and proposed that the gov
eminent take over the railroads, his pro
possls were met with storm of in
dignatiou, and he was forced TO qualify
his utterance py saying that this country
was not yet ready for such a proposition
and finally the matter was entirely
dropped by this distinguished states
man.
There has been such a revolution ii
the thought of the American people II
the last twenty years, such breaking
up Of the old party alignments ant
such destruction of party ideals, tina
one scarcely knows for what any politi-
cal party stands. 1t is also worthy o.
observation that political party il
scarcely intrusted with power to carry
out its platform declarations, unit
those selected for the purpose of The
administration of the party law, have
turned their backs upon the salutary
provisions Of the same and in addition
TO that are advancing untried theorie.
Of their own, which have no sanction
from their party and in some intance
are directly opposed to the fundamen
tai principles OF the party.
We are opposed to all monopolies
trust and combines, the object of which
is to restain the people in their FREE
commerce, or which may Cypress then
in any form. We, who live in the in
terror, know but little about the shil
trust. We have been RECALLED for year
with fulm nations against railroads
trusts and combines. The laws on tn
statute book are now ample to plotec
the people from oppessions if any sue
there are.
The pro position Of the President t
put the United States in the ocean carry
ing business and making it one gigar
tic trust, will never meet with favo
from the American people. The Demo
cratic party should have a caution ho'
it legislates, and especially should b
exec edingiy cautious in opening up
question of government ownership {
public utilities, which, if it should bt
come an accomplished fact. would,
our opinion, destroy local self govern
ment and the cherished doctrine {
states rights the foundation stones {
democracy.