West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-09

siuered III we are to consider the SUI
preme matter OF national self sufiicien-
| cy aud security I'm all its aspects.
There are other great matters which
VIII be thrust upon our attention
whether we will or not. There Is. for
example. very pressing question OF
trade and shipping involved In this
great problem OF national adequacy.
IL Is necessary for many weighty rea-
sons OF national efficiency and devel-
opment that we should have n great
merchant marine. The great merchant
feet we once used To make us rich.
that great body OF sturdy sailors who
used 10 carry our nag into every sen.
and who were the pride and often the
bhlwark or the nation. we have almost
driven out or existence by mexcusable
neglect and Indifference and by a hope
lcssly blind and provincial policy OF
SO called economic protection. IL IN
| high time we repaired our mistake and
resumed our commercial independence
on the seas.
For IL In N question OF independence.
If other nations go to war or seek To
hamper each others commerce our
merchants. IL seems. are Mt their mer-
cy to do with as they please. We must
use their ships and use them M they
Determine. We have not ships enough
or our own. We cannot handle our
own commerce on the seas. Our indie
pendence IN provincial. and is only ON
land and within our own borders. We
are not likely TO be permitted TO use
even the ships or other nations An ri.
VARY or their own trade and are with
out means To extend our commerce
even where the doors are wide open
and our goods desired. Such situa
ton IL not To be endured. IL IL OF capi.
tai importance not only that the Unit.
ed states should DO it's own carrier on
the seas and enjoy, the economic indie.
pendenee which only an adeaunte
merchhnt marine would give Il, but
also that the American hemisphere az
whoie should enjoy a like indcpend-
ence and self sufliciency. IL Il is not
70 be drawn into the tangle OF Euro
pean affairs. Without such independ.
ence tho whole question OF our polIt.
icai unity ana Hlf determination In
very seriously clouded and complicated
indeed.
moreover. we can develop no true or
euective American policy without ships
OF our own-not ships OF war. but
ships or peace. carrying goods aud car.
rying much morei creating friendships
ana rendering Indispensable services TO
MI interests on this side the water.
They must move constantly back and
forth between the Americas. Tbeyn
the only shuttles that can wenye the
Delicate fabric OF sympathy. compre-
pension, confidence and mutual de.
pendence I'm which we wish TO clotbe
our policy OF America for Americans.
The task OF building UP an adequate
merchant marine for America private
capital must ultimately undertake and
achieve. as It has undertake. and
achieved every other like task among
us In the past, with admirable enter
prise. intelligence and vigor. and n
seems to mo manifest dictate OF wis.
dom that we should promptly remove
every legal obstacle that may stand I'm
the way or this much TO be desired re.
vival or our old independence and
should facilitate in every possible way
the building, purchase and American
registration OF ships. But capital ean-
not accomplish this great task OF n
sudden. IL must embark upon it by
degrees. az the opportunities OF trade
develop. Something must be done az
once, done to open routes and develop
opportunities where they are as yet
undeveloped. done TO open the arteries
or trade where the currents have not
yet learned 10 run. especially between
the two American continents, where
they are, singrlarly enough. yet 20 be
created and quickened. and Il IN .evi.
dent that only the government can un-
dertake such beginnings and assume
the initial financial risks When the
risk has passed and private capital be-
gins TO find Its way In sufficient abun-
dance into these new channels the gov.
ernment may withdraw. But Il can
not omit TO begin. IL should take the
first steps. and should take them at
once. Our goods must not lie piled up
at our ports and stored upon side
tracks I'm freight cars which are daily
needed on the roads. must not be left
without means OF transport TO any for
eign quarter. We must not await the
permission of foreign shipowners and
foreign governments TO send them
where we viii.
With a view TO meeting these press
Ing necessities OF our commerce and
ayaillng ourselves Mt the earliest possi-
BILE moment OF the present unparalleled
opportunity Of linking the two Ameri-
cas- together I'm bonds OF mutual inter
est and service. an opportunity which
may never return again II we miss ~
now. proposals will be mnde 90 the
present congress for the purchase or
construction u ships 90 he owned and
directed by the government similar TO
those made TO the last congress. bnt
modified in some essential particulars.
recommend these proposals TO y0u
for your prompt acceptance with the
more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
posals were made has made the ne,
cessity for such action more and more
manifestly imperative. That need was
then foreSeen. II IS now acutely felt
and everywhere realized by those foE
whom trade T. waiting but who can
ind no conveyance foe their goods.
am not so much interested Ia the par
ticulars OF the program as I am in
taking immediate advantage OF the
great opportunity which awaits us 10 |
we viii but act IN this emergency. Ia
this matter rs In all others a spirit OF |
common counsel should prevail and |
out OF u should come on early sOlu- !
ton OF this pressing problem.