The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-07-06

perfty to all workers, but is the sol
vent of the problems Of our nonwork-
ers, of our unemployed. The attendant
evils of idleness-viz.. crime. discon-
tent, the white slave trafiic-all are
chiefly attributed to i%rregularity Of en-
ployment. They are aggravated in our
case because we open the portals of
our country to all the white people of
the earth, inviting them to cast their
lot with US, and, by implication, assur-
ing them of steady, honorable employ
ment If they come. They do come.
Do they get their contemplated steady
Jobs? i leave it to your own observa-
ton and the annals of our charity or
ganizations and suppression Of vice so
cieties TO answer that question.
at is not true to affirm that our do
nestle or home market commerce will
provide sufficient n Of employ
ment to give steady jobs to all who
are out Of work. Invaluable as the
home market is, It is always hectic in
its movement. Moreover. the produc-
tive capacity Of our manufacturing es-
adjustments has been developed to
such extraordinary efficiency that In
normal times we can make In four
months as much as the home market
can absorb I'm twelve.
Need Foreign Trade.
Furthermore, domestic commerce la
bors under this fatal economic defect
1t does not reduce our country's for
eign Indebtedness by one 'jot or title
Pennsylvania may sell California
$10,000.000 worth Of steel products,
for example. 1t is fine business MS far
as 1t goes, but nevertheless not one
iota of our indebtedness to foreign ma
tons is Offset thereby. The volume of
our Indebtedness to foreign nations
opens up a big chapter. Suffice it to
say that every citizen in the country
is taxed TO provide the interest on
every conceivable thing we use or con-
sumo, save the air We breathe. Fifty
per cent of the interest and dividends
on American securities is paid to for
eigners.
How can this terrible outgo be off
set save by vastly increased exports
Of American products2 There il no
other way except by counter invest
ment by Americans In foreign securi-
ties, and this e of equalization Is
not open to the average citizen.
Hence 1t follows that augmented ex-
ports of America Is not an academic
question, a thing merely to be desired.
Ii Is an unacceptable necessity upon
which hangs the whole fabric of Amer
lean well being. 1t Is the evolutionary
stage of growth at which 1o0,000,000
people in America have arrived; their
necessities cannot be denied.
This country only exports 8 per cent
of its products and ever that trifling
percentage of export is INSTRUCTED by
innumerable difficulties attendant upon
our lack OF control of the ocean trans
p~ortation Of our goods.
AN adequate export trade, availa-
BILE for the average manufacturer, as
well as the very few exceptionally large
industries, Is impossible of attainment
unless America has an adequate mer-
chant marine of her own, and thus con-
trols the ocean transportation and for
eign delivery Of her products.
Citizens Back Ensign.
"Citizens of other countries have
stood back of their respective ensigns,
to the very great honor, glory and COM
mercial supremacy of those countries.
America must do the same; not should,
but must. The wheel of destiny has
brought our nation to the ~irrevocable
course.
THE federal trade commission has
power to make such a study OF the gov
ernmental conditions and institutions
(such as boards of trade, ministries of
marine, etc. in foreign countries as
have resulted In successful merchant
navies I'm those countries, with the pur-
pose Of establishing an appropriate
maritime board, bureau or council for
America and of recommending such
legislation to the congress as will result
In the creation of an overseas Ameri-
can merchant marine.
1.-The members of the National Ma
rine league do not approach the sub
ject from the viewpoint of any bust
ness interest or organization of party,
of capital or of labor, but each In the
sovereign capacity of a citizen of the
republic.
Through the demand of its citizens,
the United States can bring its mari
time development to a parity with its
wonderful continental development in
a tanner that will lead TO the use of
the vast maritime of III own
country and the employment of our
own citizens In the creation of the In
strumentality-a merchant marine of
our own"
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