The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1915-02-17


the formation OF the artificial person
called corporation" but I can not
As far as the purchase or construction
Of tire vessels Is concerned, section 3
Of the bill provides:
"That the United States, through the
shipping board and with the approval
o. the President, is authorized to pur-
chase or construct vessels suitable. in
the judgment Of the shipping board,
for the purpose OF such corporation,
with view to transferring them to
such corporation"
II is here Enthusiastically pro-
vided that the United States
shall either purchase or con-
struct suitable vessels for this cor
poration. and here Is where our Gov
eminent would take bold chance Of
reversing It's policy Of strict neutrality
to an ENHANCEMENT and probable par
ticipation In this world war by the pur-
chase of vessels owned by some one
of the beligerent powers. II vessels
are to be purchased, II must necessarL
| ly be vessels OF this character-those
which are unable to participate In
commerce because interned, at the out
break of hostllitles. All other vessels
are too prohtably engaged to be
bought now at any reasonable price.
Is It possible that we are not to view
with alarm or feel any concern II the
United States. through this shipping
board, purchases these vessels with
the view of subsequently turning them
over 10 this corporation, IN which 1t
must own 81 per cent Of the stock,
and, in fact, will own hundred per
cent? Is It an evidence Of timidity to
take this rational view? The very dis
cuss.on of this bill and the possibility
of its complications by learned
lawyers on either side Of this Cham
Der, and the opinion OF eminent
lawyers representing the Government,
holding, as they do, so many divergent
views on the right to purchase vessels
of beligerents, and the presumption
prevailing when they were purchased
before the outbreak of hostilities and
after the outbreak Of hostilities, and
whether or not they were purchased
IT. good faith, whether the good faith
of the vendor or the purchaser is to
prevail, and whether controversy
arising between nations over such pur'
chase Is to be determined by the rules
and laws Of the captor country or
whether, the declaration of London
which has not been ratified and &C
cepted, is to prevail.
say IL these gentlemen, so eminent
and learned in their profession, disa
gree about these international ques
tions, experience teaches US what We
may expect, because when lawyers
disagree the courts must decide. II
will then not be a court Of this coun
try, but of the captor country that will
have jurisdiction; then l., for one, be
come timid and view with deep con
Germ the possibilities OF serious com
plications, If not war. Why are we tc
take all Of these chances and assume
} all of these risks, fraught with sc
much concern to the people Of this
country? Because we are told thai
there is scarcity of vessels engaged
in the ocean trade and the freigh
rates are high and 1t is believed thai
these conditions may be remedied II
this way. l do not subscribe to this
theory and do not believe for mo
!, ment that the suggested plan will
prove efficacious, but granting that Il
, will are we justified In taking such ;
hazardous step for a mere commercial
advantage?
Mr.. President every day brings
forth new angles, stronger an(
, clearer light with which to view thii
momentous question. New situation!
!, are revealed. The morning papers O
this country are all quoting an edi
torial from the London Daily News o
February 8, headed president VII
sons problem" At first there wa.
great hostility In the average British
, mind against this shipping bill. Thii
: editorial was written for the purpose
of dlsabusing that idea, for what rea
! son is here revealed. quote the las
: paragraph Of the article:
1--WE do not here discuss the bear
ings Of this matter on our interests
but there is one point we ought not Il
overlook. and that Is that the sub
: marine has become In this war a seri
! GUS peril to our food supplies. It will
dominate our position unless science
, discovers an effective weapon Of de
Tense. Should 1t threaten our shipping
with destruction and ourselves will
starvation 1t will not be an unim
} portant fact that great neutral coun
try possessing a mercantile marine o
it's own can send its ships into ou
ports unmolested and unafraid."
Democratic Senators. !, solemn,
warn you that it is madness to, pusl
this bill to embark our Government
upon this perilous and uncharted bust
: ness sea. Does not Britain well know
that II one Of this country's boat
should be sunk by floating mine--il
J an accidental wayne might say
! then, we would not only be feeding
Britain. but we would find ourselves