The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-12-09
COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE
FINE MERCHANT MARINE
United States Should Be its Own Car
risr or the Seas.

risr or the Seas.
II this full program should be carrie'
out we should have built or building Il
1921, according 10 the estimates OF sur
vIval and standards Of Classification
followed by the general board Of thu
department. an effective navy consist
ing Of - battleships of the first line.
battle cruisers. % battleshlps OF th'
second line. 10 nrmorc1 cruisers, !:
scout cruisers. 3 first class cruisers.
second class cruisers 10 third elias
cruisers. i0S dcstroycrs. Is fleet sub
marines. t57 coast submarines. mon
itors, 20 gunboatS. 4 supply ships T.
fuel ships. Z transports. 3 tender T.
| torpedo vessels. : vessels OF spscia
types and two ammunition ships Thi'
would be n navy fitted TO our needs
and worthy Of our traditions
But armies and Instruments Of war
are only part 81 what has TO be con.
| sidered II we ure TO consider the su
preme matter Of national self sufhcleu.
cy and security In all Its aspects.
There nre other great matters which
will be thrust upon our attention
whether we viii or not There Is. for
example. n very pressing question of
trade and shipping involved In this
great problem Of national adequacy
IL is necessary for many velghty rea.
sons Of national efficiency and devcl-
opment that we should have n great
ha H. kat
feet we once used. to make ~ rich
that great body OF sturdy sailors who
used TO carry our tiag into every sen.
and who were the pride and often the
bulwark Of the nation. we have almost
driven out OF existence by insxcusable
neglect and indifference and BY n hope
lessly blind and provincial policy OF
SO called economic protection. IL Is
high time we repaired our mistake and
resumed our commercial independencc
on the seas.
For IL is n question OF indepsnacnce.
hamper each others commerce our
merchants. IL seems. are at their mer.
cy TO do with rs they please. We must
use their ships and use them as they
determine. We have not ships enough
Of our own We cannot handle our
own commerce on the seas Our tnde-
pendence Is provincial. and 10 only on
land and within our own borders. We
are not likely to be permitted to use
even the ships OF other nations In n
valry Of their own trnde and are with.
out means 70 extend our commepe
even where the doors are wide open
and our goods desired. Such a satua.
ton Is not TO be endured IL Is Of capt
tai importance not only that the Unit.
ed States should be Its own carrier on
the seas and enjoy the economic indie.
pendence which only an adequate
merchant marine would give. IL, but
also that the American hemisphere as
whole should enjoy like indspend.
ence and self sufficiency. II IL is not
to be drawn into the tangie. ot Euro-
pean affairs. Without such indspend.
ence the whole question of our pollt.
ical unity and self determinntioa Is
very seriously clouded and complicated
indeed.
Moreover. we cnn develop no true or
enecu'e American policy without ships
OF our own-not ships OF wur. but
ships OF peace. carrying goods and car.
rying much more: creating friendships
and rendering Indispensable services to
all interests ON this side the water,
Ihey must move constantly back and
torth between'the Americas They are
the only shuttles that can weave the
deiicate fabric OF sympathy. compre-
hension' confidence and mutual de
pendence In which We wish 10 cIothe
our policy OF America for Americans
Inc task OF building up an adequate
merchant marine for America private
eapitai must ultimately undertake and
achieve as II has undertaken and
achieved every other hke task among
US In the past with admirable enter
PRISE intelligence and visor. and II
seems 10 me manifest dictate OF wis
dom tnat We should promptly remove