The sun., 1915-05-25
Go Slowly. Mr.. President!

Go Slowly. Mr.. President!
The gathering Of the Pan-American
Financial Congress at Washington Is
q very interesting event. There Is
almost the sensation Of novelty In
considering questions Of International
import which involve no diplomatic
controversy, no clash Of interests. no
aggression or resistance Of aggres-
sion, but only the splendid possibili.
ties Of pence.
In view Of the patriotic unanimity
IN support Of the Administrations at
titude toward the belllgerent Powers,
there could he no more unfortunat te
time for the intrusion Of questions
tending to produce marked diver
gence of opinion with regard to mat
tiers Of domestic policy or to weaken
public confidence in the solidity and
sanity Of the Presidents judgment.
The question Of the expediency Of ere
ating a Government owned merchant
marine Is purely one Of domestic pol
Icy even though it reaches out over
the seas to the utternost parts Of
the globe. That is why We regret to
find in Mr.. WILSON'S address yester-
day to our honored guests. the Pan
American delegates. the following
challenge ana provocation Of conser-
vati,e thought:
zone OF the main things in our way
10 the physical lack OF mea.s OF COM
munlcatlon. the lack Of vehicles. the lack
Of ships and established routes OF trade
l am perfectly char in my own mind
that II private capital cannot enter soon
upon the adventure OF establ shing these
means OF communication, the Govern
ment must undertake to do So
Here again. apparently. crops out
the old and unlovely project which
has for time lain dormant. Per
fectly clear Is the Presidents mind
that the Federal Government ought
10 buy ships and engage on its ,wn
account in the mercantile carrying
business? So far as South American
trade Is concerned. IL we are not mis-
taken. the principal bar to the estab-
liahment of the needed routes in the
only proper American way. namely by
private enterprise, Is afforded by the
natural apprehension OF Government
competition. or. at least, Of Govern.
ment regulation and restriction rem.
dering problematical the success OF
the private adventure.
President WILSON ought to think
very clearly upon the functions Of
Federal Government and the limita
tions interposed by the Constitution
to prevent dangerous excursions into
State socialism. He ought to think
hard and deliberate long before com.
mitting himself irrevocably to the
scheme which seems to have capt.
waited the minds of certain of his near
associates
1t happens that the platform on
which President WILSON was elected
is unusually explicit in its coditica
tion of Democratic principle and the
ory concerning the development of
South American trade, We quote rhs
Baltimore resolution here in order 10
freshen the Presidents memory:
I'VE believe in fostering by con.
st!tutiolal regulation OF commerce the
growth OF merchant marine which
shall develop and strengthen the com
mercial ties which bind US to our sister
republics to the south, but without i'm
ppSlHS hIhAAlpHSl upou INC pto-
pie and w!thou- bountieS or subsidies
from the public treasury"
We wish that the President had
either himself read to the Pan-Amer
lean Financial Congress this authOri
tative decIara tion Of his party's prin
ciples or requested Mr.. McADoo to
read it for the informal tion Of all
concerned.
II the President and his Secretary
OF the Treasury study their mandate
to foster the growth of merchant
marine they will find not one word
about Government merchant ships oil
Government operation of vessels en-