The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-17


search only to merchant vessels of
other nations and not to naval vessels.
Would ships owned and operated by
the United States Government In
times of congested trade. but so de-
signed in ordinary conditions to be
used as auxiliaries in the Nayy-would
those be naval ships or not? What
would be the status of a merchant
marine owned and operated by the
United States Government? AS it
stands now, according to international
law merchant ships under convoy of
a neutral warship are exempted from
visit and search. Will the American
people think it advantageous for our
Government to go into trade at this
time and forfeit the advantages now
enjoyed by it's naval vessels?
At present beligerents claim the
right to search all vessels carrying
the 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 to await the de-
cision of international courts; but
could or would they submit to ap-
parent indignities offered to the
United States Government in the form
of one of it's vessels? 1t is not only
an unneutraI act but practically de-
claration of war for any Government
to furnish beligerent with supplies.
Can this Government associate itself
from that position in the eyes of the
warning nations If it embarks on the
carrying trade at this timer If this
bill does not undertake to embark the
United States Government, in it's SOW
ereign capacity. in the purchase, con-
struction, and operation of vessels in
ocean trade, then must confess that
do not understand the English lam
guage.
The analytical minds of -distin-
guished lawyers may be able to split
hai:s or dissociate the Government
from this undertaking by. reason of
the formation of the artificial person
called Cooperation but l can not.
AS far as the purchase or construction
of the vessels is concerned, section 3
of the bill provides:
THAT the United States, through the
shipping board and with the approval
|
chase or construct vessels suitable, in
the Judgment of the shipping board,
for the purpose of such corporation,
with a view to transferring them to
such corporation
1t is here Enthusiastically pro-
vided that the United States
shall either purchase or con-
struct suitable vessels for this cor
poration, and here is where our Gov
eminent would take a bold chance of
reversing its policy of strict neutrality
to an ENHANCEMENT and probable par
ticipation in this world war by the pur-
of the beligerent powers. If vessels
are to be purchased, it must necessari
ly be vessels of this character-those
which are unable to participate In
commerce because interned at the out
break of hostilities. All other vessels
are too profitably engaged to be
bought now at any reasonable price
Is it possible that we are not to view
with alarm or feel any concern If the
United States, through this shipping
board, purchases these vessels will
the view of subsequently turning then
over to this corporation, in which i
must own 81 per cent of the stock
and, in fact, will own a hundred PEI
cent? Is it an evidence of timidity Il
take this rational view? The very dis
: cussion of this bill and the possibilit!
of its complications by learned
i lawyers on either side of this Cham
Der, and the opinion of eminen
lawyers representing the Government
holding, as they do, so many divergen
/ views on the right to purchase vessel
r of beligerents, and the presumption
prevailing when they were purchases
J before the outbreak of hostilities ant
after the outbreak of hostilities, ant
} whether or not they were purchases
| II. good faith, whether the good faitl
f of the vendor or the purchaser is t
: prevail, and whether a controvers
t arising between nations over such puI
S chase is to be determined by the rule
i and laws of the captor country o
S whether the declaration of London
e which has not been ratified and az
= cepted, is to prevail.
: say if these gentlemen, so eminen
y and learned in their profession, diss
4 | gree about these international que:
: tons, experience teaches US what W
a may expect, because when lawyer
}, disagree the courts must decide.
!, will then not be a court of this couI
y try, but of the captor country that wi
e have jurisdiction; then l, for one, b.
Il come timid and view with deep col
l. Germ the possibilities of serious con
e plications, if not war. Why are we {
t take all of these chances and assum
l. all of these risks, fraught with s
# much concern to the people of TIL
o country? Because we are told thu
y there is a scarcity of vessels engage
s in the ocean trade and the freigl
/ rates are high and it is believed tn;
IS these conditions may be remedied
y this way. ! do not subscribe to tn
l. theory and do not believe for a m
r ment that the suggested plan wi
a. prove efficacious, but granting that
IS will are we justified in taking such
l. hazardous step for mere commerce.
+ advantage?
is Mr.. President, every day brini
re forth new angles, a stronger al
y clearer light with which to view tn
Is momentous question. New situation
E. are revealed. The morning papers
lie this country are all quoting an eC
or torial from the London Daily News
IS February 8, headed president w
If sons problem" At first there w
n great hostility in the average Britii
ly mind against this shipping bill. Tn
e. editorial was written for the purpo
to of disabusing that idea, for what re
in son is here revealed. / quote the la
or paragraph of the article: