Evening journal., 1915-02-10
EVENING JOURNAL. Senator dupont
continued.


small measure of Importance to be
attached 10 newspaper editorials SO
far as their influence on public
opinion is concerned. great many
people will be found to disagree with
him. AS the newspapers Of the coun-
try arc conducted on business
basis. the editors or owners. in spite
OF personal bias. arc forced TO reckon
with public sentiment II they do not
wish to sec their profits curtailod:
and therefore. Mr.. President. when
newspapers and periodicals all ovcg
the country seem TO develop a certain
unanimity OF view in regard to any
public question, Il Is an indication 10
my mind of the trend OF public
opinion, and very strong indication
a. that shall not unduly extend my
speech by citing a great mass OF
newspaper articles In opposition 20
tho bill which have appeared in both
Republican and Democratic newspap-
crs. but will content myself with
reading a few of these as indicative
OF their general tone
He read extracts from tho New
York Sun. Washington Post New
York Times. New York Tribune,
American Industries, Boston Post,
Philadelphia Public Ledger. Chicago
+ Daily Tribune. Wilmington Morning
I News, Wilmington Every Evening.
and The Wilmington Evening Journal.
"I will now read" the Senator
/ said. "a remarkable editorial from
! the Lexington Herald Of Tuesday.
January IL, 1915, the only daily morn
: ing paper in central Kentucky
That editorial which excited much
I interest is as follows;
"In a striking speech delivered by
President Wilson at Indianapolis on
Jackson Day, which is we'll worth
pcrusal by those who wish to become
acquainted with the thoughts of the
President and TO understand his pur-
pose he states: Many Of those who
arc fighting the ship purchase bill
now before Congress are misguided; F;
others are blind. but most of them
are ignorant
"There is an old story that a man
away from home received a telegram
saying: Your mother-in-law Is dead.
Shall we embalm. cremate or bury I?
Promptly answered the living son-in-
! law: Take no chances. Do all
three
I'VE feel somewhat as did that SON
in-law We know the President. as
always. is accurate in his statement
that those who oppose the ship pur
{ chase bill are misguided. blind Ol
ignorant, and our opposition to tina
c bill Is so strong that we plead guilt
D 10 being all three: misguided In ou
] belief that Il is i'm violation OF ever.
: Democratic principle and tenet: bin,
) In our inability to sec how II vii
benefit American commerce: ignOran
of the purposes of those who advo
I cate such a bill instead OF frankly
; advocating subsidies from which
greater benefits would come.
; "Wo have been utterly misguided
in our study Of history II such bill
is.in accord with any principle enun-
ciated by q Democratic platform OF
b approved heretofore by a Democratic
5 President or a Democratic Congress
1--WE know OF nothing In any hand
} book of Democratic principles that
justifies the government entering into
, competition with private capital. w,
! are unable to understand or TO ap.
y pTeciate that conception of Democra
I tic policy that thinks il proper iC
e blaze the way for the government {,
70 enter into business in competition
! with private enterprise. and that toe
{ in a business that requires exper
{ knowledge and long training.
{ I'VE are blind, utterly blind. 10 tn,
n advantages that will come from thil
C bill No reasonable man can advo
cate the use Of government-owne,
p ships in European trade. No maI
e who appreciates the temper of thu
- American people can contemplate th'
= possibility of the seizure of gov
p ernment-owned ship by the warshipi
4 OF a foreign nation without realizing
I the imminent danger of involving M
c in war with the country making tn
# seizure
= "The President saw fl to protes
to England. which is in fact a protes
g, 10 all OF the allies. against the seiz
c ure. examination and detention o
+ ships carrying goods TO neutral coun
:. tries. In the papers OF Sunday. tn
G day after the publication of the Pres
Q idonts speech. there were account
c that the allies would probably seiz
i a ship that after the declaration o
C war had been purchased and trans
p fcrrcd 10 American register. upon tn
s ground that the purchase was no
% bona fde.
C "ls the United States government Il
{ purchase ships that are now internel
y and pay TO the citizens Of tho warrinl
% countries millions OF dollars withOu
{ ~ otcst from the other countries in
D volved in this war? Are We to us
s such ships in the European trad
e with the practical certainty that W
d will become involved through tn
c seizure, search and detention Of thos
p ships? We do not believe that on
J, even so blind as we admit ourselve
r 10 be can can face with equanimit
e such a prospect
S There has been no revelation {
j. a method by which we can prompt
|. use such government-owned ships fc
= the purpose of developing the Sout
d American trade. about which we hea
n SO much, and which will eventuall
= be Of no great value. hut which mu,
d be developed along the lines that haN
= been laid through the centuries by Il
s. prejudices and the customs of n
d residents of South America.
l. There is no intimation OF the pls
"a of the government 10 secure war
II houses and docking privileges in Il
II South American republics. The bag
= telle of S30000,000 proposed in q
I'd bill. which Is but fraction of q
n ultimate amount that would be r
ao quircd. for the ostensible purpose
IL creating navy Of merchant ship
lg would not in any appreciablo W;
c- relieve conditions as fhcv NOW axie