The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-04-27
PAGE TWO

New York and Boston to Liverpool
was 41c per bushel. In January, 1916,
the rate was 4O.6c per bushel from
New York; from 34c to 35c from Bos-
ton, and 54.8c from New Orleans. The
rate on fourincreased from 15c per hun
dred in January, 1914, to 90c in jan
uary, 1916. This means a loss of 36c
per bushel to the farmers of Minnesota
and nearly So on every barrel of flour.
But that does not tell the whole
story. The ocean rates on other farm
products have relatively increased
livestock, meats, and all other products
of the farm. We must remember that
the market price of what we sell at
home, as well as to foreign nations,
is made on the basis of these ocean
rates.
Do we need any further demonstra-
ton of the necessity of an adequate
merchant marine in this country? 1t
is easy to see how many millions would
have gone into the pockets of the
farmers of the state, had we at the
time had merchant ships sufficient to
handle our exports and maintain rea-
sonable rates. Equally significant is
the value of our exports in manufac-
tured products. I wish to correct a
general impression that our exports
consist principally Of munitions of
war. They consist chiefly of farm and
manufactured products other than mu-
nitions.
This foreign commerce affords en-
ployment to millions of our citizens
and is one Of the principal elements
of many great industries. What are
we going to do when at the close of
the war we must meet the competition
of other nations? When the great
ships of the warning nations are re-
leased, they will Immediately engage
in commerce, primarily in aid Of their
own manufacturers and producers.
The wheat of Russia through the
Dardanelles, and the grain and meats
of Argentina will come in competition
with the products of our farmers. Ar
gentina is to-day suffering more from
the increase in ocean rates than we
are. All rates between that country
and the United States have increased
substantially 1000 per cent. We have
on the Pacific at present concrete
example of the discrimination of for
eign nations. Japanese ships, which
transport the bulk of the tonnage,
carry products from the United States
to the Philippines and Chinese ports,
but refuse tonnage lying on the docks
in those ports seeking our markets, go
in ballast to Japan in the interest of
their own merchants and load there
for the return voyage. The government
of Great Britain has lately taken over
all her ships in aid of her own COM
merce. Our railroad terminals at the
seaports have for months been blocked
with farm and other products viii:
cannot be shipped abroad. In what
commanding position we should have
been if at the beginning of this war
we had possessed an adequate mer-
chant marine which could at reason
able rates have carried American prod
ucts and extended our commerce over
the world!
The foreign relations of our people
have suddenly sprung into promi-
nence and become matter of vital in
terest, involving our national honor
and the peace and prosperity of our
people. For many years, while immi-
grafton was pouring into this coun-
try, we were settling up new lands and
developing our rich natural resources,
and our relations with foreign coun-
tries were of much less Importance.
dare say the average citizen paid but
slight attention to them. In fact, the
public were taught to believe that we
were sufficient within ourselves and
that it was our duty to keep out Of
all complications with foreign coun-
tries. This is true to the extent that
it is possible under modern conditions.
I do not believe that this country
should generally become entangled
in the international policies Of the old
world; but under modern conditions,
with the necessity of finding a mar
ket for our products, with the inter-
change Of credits, with American cap
ital seeking an outlet in foreign lands,
and with the growth of intercommuni-
cation and travel, it is impossible for
us to live within ourselves. The inter-
dependence of nations has increased
instead of diminished. Our foreign
commerce is necessary to furnish a
market for the product of the farm
ers and manufacturers. We cannot
maintain foreign commerce unless
the government protects our citizens