The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-02-25

Of public funds for private purposes
and a wastefui, illogical, and useless
attempt to overcome by subsidy the
distractions raised by Republican
legislation to the growth and devel.
opments of American commerce on
the sea. We favor the upbuilding of
a merchant marine without new or
additionay burdens upon the people
and without bounties from the pub
lie treasury"
There is no doubt about the mean.
ing of that language either. 1t has
no uncertain sound. 1t is the voice
of the unterriGed, patriotic, brave
masses of this republiC-the men who
really keep the banner of democracy
In the air-men who would "spurn
with contumely the power that bends
the towards knees and forces from
the lips of treachery the lies of
praise" If it was the truth then
prinriples do not, like Senators,
change; they are immortal-it is the
truth now, and | will not violate It,
Mr.. President, have searched the
annals of the Democratic party. |
have studied carefully its Platform
announcements. have read the
great debates of able senator's
George, Of Mississippi, one of the
greatest constitutional lawyers who
ever sat in this body; the erudite and
accomplished Vest, of Missouri, in
whose seat the scoding Senator from
that state now expands; and scores
of others-who have discussed the
question of ship subsidy in this cham.
Der and l have failed utterly to dis
cover or find one scintilla of argu.
ment Of approval in the history OF
the party in favor of the principles
involved in this ship purchase bill.
To my mind It Is the worst form I
subsidy, because we do not know how
much 1t is going to cost the taxpay-
ers. It is vaguely indefinite, the flow.
ering of legislative disingenuousness
II is also class legilation of the most
indefensible and atrocious type.
What ever may be its purpose or
design, there is one thing certain
II will not do the laborer, the farm
err, the producer, any good. AS l said
moment ago, he will bear the bur.
den and somebody else will reap
the profits.
You can not build up a merchant
marine such as is contemplated in
the Democratic platform of 1872
such as all patriotic Americans de
sire-at the expense OF the govern
ment unless you are going to build
up a permanent government owned
merchant marine. 1t has been clear
ly and Enthusiastically demonstrated II
this Chamber that In order to make
a shipping business profitable there
must be land connections, there mus
be feeders to give the ships cargoes
You can no more build up proft
able, independent, permanent merch
ant marine under this bill than yol
can teach a child to walk withou
putting its feet on the floor.
Now, II it is the purpose OF thu
President to embark the United
States government upon new pol
icy-if the principles for which thu
Democratic party has stood durin
all of its history are to be set asld
and the national government is t
60 into the business of owning ship
and other agencies of transportation
and commerce. shall be glad to &C
operate with the President In tn
development Of a plan looking to tina
end. But 1t is a matter that can no
be worked out in day. For sue
an undertaking to succeed the foui
dations for the superstructure mus
be laid broad and deep. Perfect syn
metry must be preserved If the sy'
TEN shall endure. And l do no
think that the Democratic admins
tration would be justified in embarf
ing upon this entirely new policy III
til the people shall have been give
an opportunity to pass upon It,
have infinite faith in the good 1udt
ment and divine common sense
the masses.