Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-02-12


| can find nothing In the platform ut
terances of the Democratic Party that
il any way commits Democratic Sena-
tors to its support or even counte-
nances this proposed measure, but, on
the contrary, as | read the merchant
marine plank of the Democratic plat
form of 1912, it clearly condemns such
a procedure as is here contemplated.
That plank reads:
1--WE believe in fostering, by consti-
sUtional regulation of commerce, the
growth of a merchant marine, which
shall develop and strengthen the COM
mercial ties which bind us to our sis
ter Republics of the South, but with
out imposing additional burdens upon
The people and without bounties or
subsidies from the Public Treasury"
As | understand the purposes of this
bill, it does not attempt to be in har-
mony with this platform declaration to
regulate or to foster by constitutional:
regulation of commerce the growth OF
| merchant marine" but, on the con-
rary, it proposes for the Government
\ jump full-fiedged into the business
self and simultaneously create and
onduct a merchant marine, and does
in open and fragrant violation of the
.iatfoIm declaration, because in do.
lg so it is not regulation but opera.
on; and, besides, it is manifestly
IMPOSING additional burdens upon
he people" by using forty mil
ons of the peoples money in a
azardous venture, and that, too,
It a time of great public stress,
hen the Treasury needs every
,ollar to avoid further taxation of the
Ieople. This is no time for doubtful
business ventures or experiments. In
dividuals, guided by experience, are
cautious; why should the Government
be otherwise? Are we true to our con
stituents' interests or to our oaths Of
Office II we commit the Government to
a business venture so fundamentally
unsound and unwise, In which We as
individuals would not embark, con
WINGED, in advance, as every business
man must be, that 1t will necessarily
be a losing investment? No cOun-
Try has tried Government owner
hip for fundamental rea-
son. They realize that 1t places
he conduct of Its foreign bust
ness In the realms of international af-
fairs and complications. There is
"othing in the experience Of those
countries which have tried, or are try
ing, government ownership of railroads
Or other public utilities that would re-
commend it to us as a success. The
Nasteful and unbusinesslike manner
IN which the Government conducts its
affairs, State and Nation, is of itsel
sufficient to discourage and to con
lemn such an experiment, especial!
IF time when our revenues have de
he foreign war and the shrinksge ir
IMPORTS. II could, under ordinary o:
sOrmal conditions OF our country's
xistence, give my consent to try thi,
most basic change of party principle
and policy, l would certainly feel it 8
reckless tempting OF fate If l agreed
an experiment in the world crisis
hat is in the balance now.
Peace Sentiment-Its Popular Hold or
the People and Danger Of World
Complications.
Probably the one sentiment more
than any other act of this administra
lion that has gained the confidenc.
and affection of the American peopl
or the Democratic Party is the feel
ng that it has kept this country a,
peace.
Disregarding for the moment thee,
erious objections Of Government owl
crShip, it looks to me like madness [,
.eopardiZe the peace and happines
Il this Nation for an assumed an
oubtful commercial advantages
eel that if this Government engage
:ow in the ocean carrying trade it
certain invitation to disaster. T.
ny mind We will inevitably be entaL
lied in the world conflict now ragin.
)uring our Civil War we exercised tn
light of search of vessels of friendl
.ations consigned from one neutr.
}ort to another; but We confined tina
search only to merchant vessels
,ther nations and not to naval vessels
Would ships owned and operated
he United States Government i
ines of congested trade, but so dc
signed in ordinary conditions to b.,
Ised as auxiliaries in the Navy-woui,
hose be naval ships or not? VIVA
would be the status of a merchan
marine owned and operated by tn,
United States Government? AS
stands now, according to internationa
law merchant ships under convoy o.
L neutral warship are exempted from
visit and search. Will the American
people think it advantageous for enI
Government to go into trade at this
time and forfeit the advantages now
enjoyed by its naval vessels?
At present beligerents claim the
tight to search all vessels carrying
he United States flag if contraband
is suspected. The American people
are willing to submit to seizure
search, and detention of vessels owned
by private capital and tosawait the de
cision of international courts; bu,
could or would they submit to ap
parent indfgnities offered to the
United, States Government in the form
of one of, its vessels? 1t is not only
an unneutral act but practically de
claration of war for any Government
ID furnish beligerent with supplies
Can this Government dissociate itself
from that position in the eyes OF the
rarring nations if it embarks on the
carrying trade at this time? If this
bill does not undertake to embark the