The Twin City star., 1916-05-06
people and Of the civilized world can.

people and Of the civilized world can.
not permanently endure.
We have not sufficient munitions,
aeroplanes, munition factories, trans
portation facilities and army equip
ment. Our navy is third or fourth
among the navies of the world powers
and wanting in organization, men,
drill and practice; our fastest ships
are slower than some Of the German
ships destroyed in the North Sea be-
cause they had not sufficient speed.
We have practically no efficient sub
marines and not sufficient coast de-
fenses. War is now carried on with
scientific, complicated machinery. To
handle this machinery, men must be
drilled and educated in it's use, and
officers must have long experience.
This Is matter that interests every
part of the country. Business con-
nections and commerce carried on be-
tween the coasts and the interior Of
the country are so much q part of the
daily life of the citizens from ocean
to ocean, that the people of the Mis-
sissippi Valley are as keenly interest.
ed in this subject as are the people
upon the coasts. Furthermore, we are
one nation and one people and it is
appalling to think Of the consequences
which might follow our utter unpre-
paredness to defend our country.
FOREIGN COMMERCE AND MER.
CHANT MARINE.
One of the most vital subjects now
before the American Congress and the
people Of this country is that of for
eign commerce and a merchant ma
rine.
In 1915 our commerce with foreign
countries amounted to $5,326,O77, ,O67,
Of which more than 1854, ,48O,372 con-
sisted of our products sold in other
countries and more than a thousand
million dollars was farm products.
With the exception of the coastwise
commerce, at the beginning Of the war
we had very little merchant marine,
and were dependent upon the ships Of
other nations. Today, we practically
have no ships on the Pacific Ocean.
One illustration will show the i'm.
portance of our foreign commerce to
the farmers Of this country. In 1918,
our export of foodstuffs, crude and
manufactured, was $494,414,640; in
1914, 1884, ,12S,261; and in 1915, $1,O12,-
b55, ,702-ten dollars for every man,
woman and child in this country. To
show how it affects the American
farmer in our own state, give the
following as the export Of wheat and
wheat -four during the years 1918 and
1915, inclusive:
Wheat.
BUS. ss.5os.sss 17s.ss1.s4 2o55,S ,Ssas, 800
ss5.oss.sss s1s7,1s4,1oo 1882, ,457. .osa
sbl.. 1,,s7s,aSs ne"f fs.7ss'o7s fs17; 1s.sso,so
sbs.ssS,444 ss2,ss1,5os 5000 ,2s4
With this surplus Of over two hun.
drod million bushels of wheat in 1915,
what would have been the market
price but for our foreign commerce?
I wish to impress upon the farmers
and business men of Minnesota their
vital interest in this question. How
much greater returns would we have
received for our wheat, -four and other
farm products had 1t not been for the
enormous ocean freight rates incident
to the scarcity Of ships and our want
Of merchant marine? Let me give
you some Illustrations: The increase
in ocean rates on grain from New
York to Liverpool in the last two years
has been about 900 per cent; on -four
about 500 per cent, and on all provi
sions about 400 per cent.