The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-12
THE PARTY MUST ANSWER
Tie American People Have
Waited Fifty Years For a
Merchant Marine and An
Academic Answer Won't
Suffice lis Enemies Raise
An OutWom Cry
On. ae AsociA-~d PEE !,

49, $50 1-rf
Chicago, Jan. a.-Sccretary .NtcAdoo
declared tonight in Il speeclt 10 the
Commercial club Of Chicago, that the
~ administration ship purchase bali now
pending in Congress offers the only
solution OF the problem OF how to
build up an adequate American Mer-
chant Marine. 1t promises, he said,
to overcome many Of the obstacles the
European war has thrust in the path
Of the American trade ~cXpausion and
tc help prosperity.
The creation OF an American Mer~
chant Marine. he argued, is not a
partisan question. but q policy Which.
has received the Endorsement Of both
the Democratic aud Republican par
ties for thirty<five years. Failure Of
the Republican party to leSislate to
that end, In twenty years of power, he
said, showed it the more culpabie.
THE Democratic party he added,
NOV has the power to legiSlate, and
1t will be equally culpable if it fails
to act. It will be even more culpable,
II 1T does nothing. since the
created by the European war il2S EN-
phaSiZed, IS nothing else could have
done, the supreme folly of subjecting
the foreign OF this great
nation to the hazards OF ocean trans
portatlon under the flags of nations
nov engaged in the most gigantic war
OF all time. Regardless OF these haz-
ards. II IL even greater folly from an
economic point OF view, to continue
deliberately the policy OF trying to
build up a great foreign trade 10y
leaving to our rivals the control OF the
vitality important Observation-Disclosures OF
ocean transportation So long as our
competitors own the ships, they make
the rates, they control the service. and
they determine the routes. With
this power 1t is easy to favor theil
commerce and discriminate against
ours.
Remove the Hazards.
so long as England commands the
sea, our commerce will not be stop.
ped. But who can f~oretell the even
Qualities Of q great war? It is con.
ceivable that a. daring German squad
ron might get into the Atlantic anC
play havoc with our commerce ir
British bottoms. No one can tell 10Y
long IA war will last and every day
that 1t continues, our foreign trade il
subject to it's NicisSitudes and dangers
IL Is fa1r to our producers, our mer
Chants II our manufacturers t,
force such risks upon them? Are w,
justified In putting the prosperity o
our country III needless ieopardy?"
The Secretary pointed out that tn
withdrawal Of 10 per cent OF tn
worlds total steam tonnage--Whic
before the war amounted to 45,400,
600 tons-had operated to increas
ocean freight rates in unprecedente
fashion. The lack of American bot
toms and the fact that neutral ship
cannot be depended upon, has prat
tlcally destroyed the trade Of Ii.
United States with some Of the bell
gercnt nations in non-contraband al
ticles. Mr.. McAdoo referred to I'll
increase in rates and said that on a
commodities 1t has amounted to bt
tween so and 300 per cent. whethl
CarEocs were Tor England, Europeal
or Mediterranean ports.
The Producer l. Taxed.
These enormous increases"
said, constitute n heavy tax on IL
American producer They are r.
Elected in the lessened prices whit
he has been compelled to take for h
product. The increased cost Of ca
Tying American produce and comm
dities to European ports since II
war broke out runs into millions.
This great sum represents q hea,
toll that has been eXacted by forei.
steamship owners from Americ;
shippers and producers. 1t is, in {
feet, a penalty they are paying +
tho failure of American political
to carry out their repeated promis
TO the American people. Forei
owners may increase their rates oy
night, arbitrarily-we have no pow
10 prevent it-and we must pay t
price or stop our shipments. Alrea
our commerce is being injured a
our prosperity is being retarded
the relentless hand OF tribute viii
lies heavily upon 1T and which v
lie more heavily upon it with ca
day that passes. because oce
freight rates are still rising
Opportunity to grasp q lal
amount Of trade is knocking at
door OF the nation, the Secretary
clared. but business men must h;
assurance OF ocean ira importation