Evening journal., 1915-02-11
THURSDAY FEB. II. 1915
lMFmCAN SENTIMENT AND SHIP PURCHASE BILL


= OLONEL HENRY A. duPoNT. sen or United states
Senator from Delaware denied. in his adnira-
Bile speech against President Wilson's Ship Purchase
bin. that that measure is expressive American
timcnt Nor did he content himself with that lie pro-
cecdod TO show. by editorials from Democratic news-
papers and by resolutions and protests against The
bl adopted by representative civic organizations in
tho affairs OF which Democrats play conspicuous parts
that President Wilson's pet but mistaken and danger
scheme for the rehabilitation of tho American
merchant marine, is not expressive of Demo
cratic sentiment
TO give point and emphasis TO what Senator DUPONT
said with respect that we take pleasure IN repro
ducng the following editorial from the Norfolk Vr-
Euian-f Pilot last Tuesday. 1t is the leading
Democratic newspapers in tho South and also one
that most ohor public questions, has given staunch
support to the Wilson administration.
Southern contemporary expresses panied surprise
thai support Of the sp-purchase bill should not be
cordially contributed by "Tho Virgnian-Pot, which
has ranked among the staunches organs Democracy
and of the administration"
This newspaper profoundly attached to Democratic
principles OF government and stands always ready TO
champion policies which II regards consistent with
them. The organ of any party faction, the Virgin
an-pilot has never been professed to be- has
over conceded blind allegiance to the leadership of
President Wilson anybody else. Neither do find
in the declarations of the Baltimore Convention any
delegation of authority to the President or Congress
siona to prescribe tests party loyalty other
than those set forth in the national platform The fact
that the shp-purchase bill has been proclaimed TO be
party by majority of the Democratic mem-
hcrsip in Congress and has the backing of the Presi-
dent neither alters our conviction maj i nrovision
conflict with sound Democratic theories established
by preccpt and precedent furnishes sufficient
reason why we should forego matured Judgment
that the bill violates fundamental laws of political
economy and would IL adopted. neither solve the prob
lems TO which addressed accomplish any benefit
81 untry commensurate with the expenditures to be
ID and The risk its operation would entail Of em-
the Government with foreign nations We
.-.- altogether from the grounds on which the pro-
moments of this legislation predicate their champion
ship of Il. TO mind the premises from which the
advocates OF government ownership argue are wholly
mistaken and therefore the conclusions they draw
be deceptive. The diagnosis is faulty The of
the trouble with merchant marine has not been
accurately located; hence in view the treatment
so srenuousy urged must be not only Intellectual for
good. but productive Of positive harm. What then
should he the attitude of minds so persuaded toward
radical departure from Democratic faith and pracce2
The only honest can make to this question
conveyed the course we have pursued Profoundly
impressed we are by the wisdom which has almost
without exception marked tho Presidents conduct of
national affairs. we feel no obligation whatever to ac-
cept his guidance i'm case where the issue is
sstent with our Interpretation the party chart and
Is loaded with menace to the country. in our appre-
We tho surcsi hope Of enlightened progress and
stable prosperity for the American people TO lie i'm
continued control OF the by statesmen linz
nuea with Democratic ideals, and we look forward with
satisfaction TO the prospect that Mr. Wilson will have
another term I'm which to complete and solidify the
sauiary reforms he has already set foot II is not
going too far to say that other public man com
mands as much of our confidence and admiration as
does President wilson but we are pretty sure he
would esteem of little worth tho journalistic reason
and conscience which should be submitted without re-
serve 20 his keeping Anyway. the Vrginian- Pilot
aims higher than be the automatic reflector of tho
sentiments opinions OF any human being II justly
entitled designation an organ of party sect class
or cabal, should esteem II indictment instead
or a compliment; and consider Il entirely sufi-
reason for not supporting the shippurchase bil
that we regard II a long, and If taken ire
ricVablc step towards entrance by the Government
competitor to private enterprise into relds of in-
dustry and commerce where its presence will extin-
guish individual effort and establish exclusive monopoly
This is paternalism raised to the Nth decree can
moi be made TO square with Democratic doctrine no
matter by whom labeled Democratic measure Had
n national convention passed the proposition and
specifically included 10 among the objects TO which its
nominees were piedged there might be some reason
'or claiming that private Judgment should yield 10
collective verdict; but in the absence Of such au-
ofliaiise declaration from the only body that can
speak with authority. think every as free
10 withhold President Wilson give endorsement
TO a bill which lacks the inprimatur which might
in some sense atone for the fact that it contrayenes the
doctrines Of Democracy heretofore expounded
In fact Democratic dissatisfaction due to the inss-
tence Of President Wilson his Congressional whips
that the Ship Purchase bill be showed through tho
United States Senate at all hazards is to be found in
all sections OF The United States Senator dupont
ppitomzed American sentiment very clevorly and ef
fecivey when in the course of his able speech on tn,
Ship Purchase bill this week ne said:
The whole scheme is OF very doubtful constitutional
ty. absolutely vicious i'm its economic principles high
y dangerous precedent for future legislation ant
fraught with infinite peril to tho maintenance of on
peaceful relations with other countries.
Further. the pending bill is i'm plain disregard IN
spirit if not of the letter of the national platform
1872 since the money which viii be by reason o
the moderate charges" Otherwise tho operation
Of the vessels controlled by the Shipping Board vii
OF the public treasury and is nothing NOR
less than money subsidy masquerading undo
The guisc of a deficit i'm Tho cost of operating
The development OF merchant marine. well n
fhc extension Of temporary relief foreign com
in, Olives economical and international question
OF faf~rcachng importance which ought hav
been treated IN purely partisan spirit in tho bil
before should thcy have been used a mean
increase ihc influence OF tho President and 10 pro
t.I
Senator DUPONT Is right The Wilson ship purchas
scheme Is vicious economically dangerous diplomats
~aliy and as piece Of partisan scheming. outrag