Evening journal., 1915-12-07
SHIP PURCHASE BILL FROM DEMOCRATIC
VIEWPOINT.


and sef-respect will permit 1t to be- supporter Of
the Wilson administration. That it feels that it would
do violence its conscience and selfrespect it
to give approval the Ship Purchase scheme of Presi
dent Wilson and Secretary OF the Treasury McAdoo is
shown by the following editorial uterance:
The average mind will experience no little difficulty
in following the reasoning Of those who argue that con-
elusive evidence of the necessity for such egsla
ton that proposed in the Government Ship Purchase
scheme to be found in the fact that certain Of the
railroads running the seaboard suffering from
congestion freight to such extent that they have
compelled to declare export embargoes" for the
time being The shipping problem confronting the
country today, which was created by the war IN Eu
rope and will disappear with the restoration of peace
is entirely one of more or less temporary supply and
so Is manfesty not TO be appreciaby affected II az
fected at all, by the entrance OF the govern
ment upon policy of ownership and operation Of
merchant bottoms in the trade Since the
conflict the other side of the Atlantic began nearly
one-quarter OF the worlds tonnage has either been
withdrawn for transport and naval auxiliary purposes
tied up in neutral ports destroyed. or This not
ton would could be brought back to merchant
service by the adoption Of such scheme as that pro-
posed at Washington. Certainly the shipping now at
the bottom the could not be raised repaired ana
put TO work carrying our products across the oceans
will any of that Communicated by the belgerents
be released so long as it is needed Tor military pur
poses AS to the German vessels tied up at our ports
there is no iota of ground for believing that they
could be purchased and put to work under the Amer-
flag for experience in the case of the Dacia and
other has concusvely demonstrated that
Great Britain and her allies, whose command OF the
seas is practically absolute would not recognize the
validity Of any such transfers.
In the light Of these facts how would could gov
ernment ownership and operation avail to improve IN
any measure a situation which must pc prompuS re-
ieved il the relief is to in time to do any goodF
The government 1t is true could go INTO the market
and buy IL willing TO pay the price demanded, DOT
toms in operation but how would or could that
help the conditions which It is sought to remedy? Every
of available overseas shipping regardless OF lne
flag flies is today fully employed and obviously neith
er the carrying capacity of this tonnagenor the amount
OF work II can made to do is TO be increased by
Of pOSslDlo
which any scheme such is proposed could add TO
tho shining available for the handling of the
seas trade would be by stimulating construction
and even there its effects would be practically nil In
the first place, merchant ships of any considerable
size require months TO build with the result that by
the time considerable additions TO our ocean tras
portation facilities could be brought about through new
construction, the war in Europe would most pIo9ang
be drawing to close, If not altogether enaeu ana le
worlds shipping situation beginning to readJust II.
self to the law OF supply and demand In the second
place the shipyards OF this and otper countries can
turn ont tonnage Just fast and the vast majority
IL not all of them. loaded up with contracts
which will their utmost capacity FOR some time TO
come.
In short the Government Ship Purchase scheme
could with any degree of reason be expected TO
ameliorate much less remedy the conditions in re-
gard to lack OF ocean transportation facilities with
which the country is confronted. while it would
embark the country upon policy Voiauve OF naslc
Democratic principles and entail upon the taxpayers
useless burden aggregating millions of dollars year
In refusing to consent to the adoption Of any such
sheme the last Congress consulted alike wisdom ana
true patriotism II is 10 be hoped that the Congress
TO convene next week. IL and when it comes to con-
slider the subject, will do no less.
That Democratic opposition to the Ship Purchase bill
is confined by no means the Vrgnian- Pilot but
tends the length and the breadth OF the nation shown
clearly by other editorial utterances and also by the
sentiment test made by the Chamber of Commerce Of
the United States President Wilson and his sonn-aw
may succeed in forcing the Ship Purchase bill
through Congress at its present session II so, only
will be after long and bitter fight and the national
Democracy will pay dearly for such legislation at the
election in 1916 Abandonment by the Democratic
majority IN the United States Senate OF its cloure, or
gag-rule scheme makes that fight all the certain
and its outcome all the problematical.
The National Democracy went into Office pledged to
do everything possible TO upbud and protect the
American merchant marine. Instead of keeping that
pledge, it passed the Panama Canal tolls exemption
pealer and thereby struck blow American coast
wise ships for the benefit of foreign competitors. Not
content with that Il passed the LaFollete Seamens
BILL which already practically has driven the American
flag Off OF the Pacific far deep-sea traffic is af
fected and has delivered to the Japanese and Others
the largest ocean in the world Subsequently it en-.
deavored 20 jam through Congress the original ShiI
Purchase bill the expense of what left of tn,
American merchant marine. That it failed to accom-
psh it's ruinous work not due to repentance bu
the fact that the ourageousness of the proposition
drew together enough patriotic Democratic and Repub
lican Senators to talk the bill to death
And now. with session begun, the same oil,
scheme, in different form is showed TO the front again
with the administration whips doing their utmost t.
clear the way for its passage Once the patriot
ism Of that section of the Senate which believes in
American merchant marine is to be subjected to tn
supreme test OF ourryng administration by sup
porting bill that would destroy what is left of tina
merchant marine. winning public favor by speakin
and voting against IT, Confronted by such an alterna
tive It should not be difficult for any Senator who love
e his country TO see in what direction his duty lie
e The path is hazed clearly that no man who has n,
n been fitted with administration hoodwink can ia
y TO see IT,
IS Ir A COuNCm Or A cInAK1