Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-18

ping bill. Now, that is the kind Of
aid to business which II does not seem
to me business can afford to have.
| do not believe in introducing the
government into competition with
private industry in this country,
(Applause.) This is a serious thing.
We can encourage industry. We
should do all we can honorably to
stimulate industry. but the introduc-
ton of the government into the ship
ping business, while l admit that the
terms Of the act are of such char
acter as to make It impracticable for
the present, yet the act constitutes a
menace to an important industry in
this country, and in my judgment
should not have been passed. II
rates are too high, provision can be
made to correct them. If there is
unjust discrimination, provision can
be made to eliminate it; but the
creation Of q government board to
purchase ships, even foreign-built
ships, and allow them the privilege
of our coastwise trade, is, to my
mind, not an aid to business. but
very unwise governmental policy.
IF we desire, however, to ascertain
what is the real attitude Of the ad-
ministration to business, we have lit
tie difficulty in ascertaining the fact.
1--WE saw at the very outset of the
administration great opportunity for
this nation to participate mean for
certain bankers who had taken up the
work really, l believe, at the sug-
gestion of former administrations--to
participate in the great loans which
were to be made for the development
Of China. Here was legitimate basis
for the extension Of American enter
prise. II the administration really
desired that we should have Ameri-
can enterprise expanded throughout
the world, and that we should have
our just influence in the Far East,
there was an opportunity for proper
basis for It. Instead OF that, it was
discouraged, and the result was that
the participation was not taken ad-
vantage OF. -.
No Protection for Americans.
"And then, a little later, under the
administration, we had the action in
Mexico, which disclosed one thing
very clearly. l say this, because we
have the word of one Of the most dis
tinguished supporters of the admin
stration for the conclusion that is to
be stated. / refer to DR.. Eliot, for
mer president of Harvard, man
whom | hold in the very highest
esteem. He examined the record Of
the administration, and he came to
the conclusion that its record with
respect to Mexico, meant this: That
hereafter we did not propose to afford
full protection by force of arms to
those who represented American
enterprise in foreign parts; and yet it
was only four years ago that our op-
ponents wrote large In their platform,
that the constitutional rights Of
American citizens should go with
them throughout the world, and that
they should have full protection
wherever they were lawfully, for their
lives and their property. (Applause.)
The result is that, according to the
analysis made of the record of the ad.
ministration, notice has been served
that full protection will not be &C.
corded to those who go abroad car
rying American enterprise in foreign
parts; and yet, it is said we should
encourage foreign trade; yet, il is said
| we should serve humanity. Yet, it is
said that we have the best genius il
the world, and should go forth into al
parts Of the world bearing the fruits
Of this genius for the benefit o.
others. What does that mean prac'
ticaliy?--it means American 'engin
GERS, it means American statesmen
liz means American bookkeepers
il means American clerks of ever,
description in branch establishment.
in connection with enterprise in va
rious places. in some of which revo
luton is frequent, where only the flal
; OF their country stands between then
and death; and fellow citizens, while
there is no occasion to use the fore,
. which that flag symbolizes, If we ar,
firm and strong in the protection o
American rights, 1t is unbelievable
, that we should depart from the his
: toric doctrine Of protecting those wht