Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-24
Kill the Ship Purchase Bill Quick

ports. that freight rates are very hIgh.
Shipowners whose vessels are able to
engage in commerce are at the pres
cnt time making such extraordinary
large profits that none Of them would
be SO foolish as to sell SHIPS Of this
kind except at prices far beyond their
value under ordinary conditions.
Tho shipyards OF Great Britain make
business of building ships for the
market without waiting for orders. n
great many ships are now under con-
structiou I'm these yards. but there is
ample capital available in Great
Britain for the purchase of these
ships and English shipping men can
readily take over every boat that Is
worth buying. and he glad To get 1t In
order TO put IL into commission at the
earliest moment possible that ad-
vantage may be taken of the eX-
cepuoually high rates of freight now
prevailing No shiphuilder would for
q moment think OF selling a ship ready
for the market except at high figure
at the present time.
This country, therefore, would be
left practically without the ability to
buy ships except at eXorbitant
figures far beyond their intrinsic value
under ordinary conditions, or else pur-
I
available only because the English
navy has swept the seas of German
commerce.
II conditions had been reversed and
/ English ships had been interned in
our ports, the Manufacturers Record
would be equally as opposed to their
/ purchase. on the ground that such
action would he bordering so closely
| ON international complications as TO
| be most unwtse.
| AT tho present time II hehooves the
| people OF this country, it's officials and
| It's newspapers to be extremely careful
and avoid everything that would tend
| to broaden the horrors Of the hides
| crihahly horrible war which cngults
| Europe When Conflagration IL
| sweeping over so large part of the
world and has gotten beyond the
worlds control, II is pre-eminently
important that we should not play
| with firohruuds even II we feel that
we have a right legally to swing fire
brands I'm the air II is incumbent
upon this country 10 lessen the worlds
| irritation. even II we have to overlook
many difficulties and be less self
asscrtive OF what We believe to be our
own rights
This Is not time when this country
can afford to do anything tending to
increase the world tension. This ma
tlon Is great enough and strong
enough. II Il has the moral backbone
and courage. TO ignore many things
which under ordinary circumstances
70 might have the moral right 10 con-
test IL is. therefore, especially in
. CuWheut upon us not 10 undertake
any measure as a nation. such, for in
stance as the purchase OF interned
ships. even II that purchase would give
MS a temporary commercial advantage,
calculated to increase the worlds hard
problems and add TO the worlds stock
of autaEonism. In this case, however,
/ the Manufacturers Record is thor
oughly convinced that such a move
mcnt. however strongly President VIII
/ SON and his coadvlsors may favor II,
I would produce no good results. but
. would certainly bring forth evil
The suggestion that ships cannot be
had TO carry products abroad is with
out weight In view of the fact we are
now exporting 100000 20 100000
, bushels OF grain a week, and a vast
quantity ~ cotton and other products.
II Is true freight rates are high, but
this Is one Of the inevitable results Of
the war II is likewise true that
wheat Is high Farmers are selling
their wheat at a higher price than
during the last quarter OF a century
I "a fact due TO war conditions. why
should we. therefore. fail TO take into
account the same war conditions as
responsible for the present freight
rates on ocean commerce.
In his vote TO annual the freedom
from tolls for American vessels en-
gagged In coastwise trade through the
Panama Canal President Wilson took
the ground that he was doing so from
a high sense OF honor that this nation
might stand before the world above
possible criticism OF its national honor.
Notwithstanding the fact that his own
party. as well as other parties. had