Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-11
THE PRESIDENTS REFUSAL
TO PLAY WITH THE TEAM
Hardly a Dozen Democratic Senators
Are at Heart in Favor Of the Ship
ping Bill-The Party Objects TO Too
Much Wilson.
BvIC. HFMPHILL

ByJ. C. HRMPHILL
WAS told the other night by Democratic
i Senator this: There are not 10 Senators
who are at heart in favor of the ship purchas-
ing bill, which is delaying the public business
and threatening the dissolution Of the DEM
ocratic party. I don't want It and will not
vote for It: my people do not want IT. the
business interests of the country will not be
served by It; II is wholly un-Democrstic be-
cause It is purely Socialistic; 1t seeks to do by
indrectlon what the Democratic party has
always fought against--the granting OF sub
sidies to ships; It is time-serving because the
best that is claimed for It by its most mouthy
advocates is that 1t is intended only to meet
a passing emergency.
Congress is asked to authorize the eXpendi-
ture Of something like $3O,OoO,O0O in the pur-
chase Of ships, Of which the Government is to
be part owner. These ships are to be used for
the transportation Of American goods and
produce TO foreign markets at rates for car
rage that will be less than the rates charged
by the owners OF ships that are engaged in
the sea- going trade. The rates are said to be
eXtravagant and the United States Govern
ment is to spend an enormous sum Of money
to set up in business for the space of two
years or IL months, in competition with the
people who are employed in this trade. And
the whole people are to be taxed to enable the
Government to do this un-Democratic thing
The Spell of the White House
1T is worse, far worse, than the Govern
ment ownership of railroads and the telegraph
and telephone industries of the country, be-
cause 1t will subject us to the danger, at least
and not remote danger. of complications
with foreign nations engaged in the sea going
trade. All this has been pointed out by the
Senators who have spoken against this new
and very dangerous departure in the func-
tions Of the Government.
"If the President should advise Congress to
appropriate $3o,OOO,OOO to be expended with
the shphuilders OF the United States in the
building of ships to be used under Govern
ment direction and ownership in the business
of carrying the manufactures and produce of
this country to foreign markets. don't you
know that would raise howl? II vote
should be taken in the Senate on the question
of voting direct subsidies to shipbuilders. do
YOU think for moment such a proposition
would meet with favor from the very Sena-
tors who are now backing the present meas
ure, and backing it. believe, simply because
they are under the spell of the White House?
It is admitted that the purpose of the bill Is
to cover only a passing emergency and can
not understand why we should do this foolish
thing that will rise up TO condemn us when
we have recovered from our hystera and
resume our old rule of fighting for 'prin-
ciple'"
This. in substance. is what one of the oldest
of the Democratic Senators said about the
shipping bill which is impeding the public
business that the President may score
another personal triumph. The team" does
not want it, the country does not need It,
As one of the Elder Statesmen said last
night: Government ownership of ships Is
the first step toward Government ownership
of railroads, and ownership of railroads
means, in fact, railroad ownership of Gov
ernment. There are over 100000 railroad
employees in the United States and team
work among them would not leave very
much for the rest of us"
Not the Same McAdoo
There was great outcry last summer and
fall for relief for the cotton growers of the
South and the efforts of Congressman Bob"
Henry, of Texas, to have the Government
issue 900 special currency to help them
in their distress constituted one of tho most
pathetic spectacles in the legislative history
of the country. Secretary McAdoo prevailed
against the raiders and the Treasury was
saved, ana the conditions have so much
improved in the South that there is little or
no talk Of the starvation and ruin from
which it was contended there could be no
escape. The McAdoo who was so strong and
effective in saving the situation then was not
the same McAdoo who now stands for the
shipping bill.
There is much objurgation of the iibuster
OF the Republican Senators against the bill.
and the seven Democratic Senators who have
Joined them in opposition to the measure are
to be buried without benefit of clergy; 10 fill
buster Is crime against the people and the
infamy of the men who are making this fight
will endure, and all that. But the men who
protest so vigorously against the wlckedness
of the filibuster in this case forget the time
when precisely the same sort of tactics was
regarded by the Democrats as the only Sc.
curity OF the South and its civilization when
the Republican majority was seeking to en-
act the Lodge-force bill.
The Presidents Usurpation
Why should the President insist upon
doubtful unnecessary and un-Democratic
things? This shipping bill is not in any
sense vital 1t is socialistic in its tendencies;
it has not been demanded by any considerable
number OF people; it is designed to relieve a
manufactured emergency; yet the President
fights for ii just as il there was some great
principle involved in 1t and as IL without 1t
the prosperity OF the country would be utterly
destroyed He has done many good things
for which he is commended of all men. He
could rest his case on the new currency sys-
tenn which John Joy Edison, one OF the high
financial lights in this community, declared
Loot Saturday night would frfVa tha Tfnitad