Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-08
FELL ON sToNEY GROUND
Speech that Cost John L. Mclaurin
Seat in United States Senate.


Speech that Cost John L. MeLaurin
Seat in United States Senate.
One of the most striking thoughts
in the last letter. of senator Banks is
in reference to Mcl4lurin's stand on
ship subsidies. In November. 1902.
senator McI.aurin delivered an ad-
dress to the Southern Cotton Spinnrrs'
association in Atlanta. Ga. and in il.
not only called attention to our lack
of ships. but to what Germany was
doing in this respect.
Great Britain is spending two
million n year IN mail subsidies in cX-
cess OF her receipts. France, Japan
ana Germany are spending millions
each year and together they have
driven the American merchant flag
from the high seas. There are mil
lions OF American money invested in
ships that run under the German and
English flag, because this government
is blind TO the importance of ships.
Remember that being under a foreign
flag in case OF war, these ships built
with American money will be used
against us.
This will strike the south 4 terrible
blow when war does come. because
our only money crop Is cotton. and II
Is an export crop. These merchant
l,i in lf
war, and cannot he built here after
war comes. Look at Germany. Her
kaiser Is one of the ablest living men.
All of his powers are bent to the pro-
-aee!jes g l;ssssiiftaasaa- -44pteEaats, ana-th0
extension OF German commerce, the
employment of German labor and
markets for German products Made
in Germany is becoming u trade
slogan the world over.
He is doing it by government sub
sidics to ships and railroads, In Asia
and South America and Africa. He
is building up German shipyards and
the subsidies are on the condition
that the ships are built by German la
Dor in German yards. Both exports
and imports passing over German
railways, leave part OF the freight
rcmitted 10 the ship delivering same
to increase its earning. In addition to
this he has inauguratcd a system OF
preferential rates to the German man.
ufacturcr from the railroad for goods
exported into the competitive markets
OF the world.
This is really n bounty which en-
ablcs the German manufacturer TO
underscll his English competitor In
China or South America.
Il want to see the American built
ship, with its American crew under
Old Glory, put in 4 position where
il can carry American goods and sell
them in competition with any coun-
try.
Until very recently commerce was
not deemed proper subject fc.' gov
ernmental consideration. There Is no
direct department Of commerce in any
government except that OF Germany.
The moving considerations prompting
the settlement OF the Chinese trouble
were commercial. The time will come
"ntn tDe DeSl UllIiuS VI every tOuhti
will be called upon TO adjust the com
plicated questions Of foreign trade and
the consular officers at the leading
ports OF commerce will equal in i'm
portance the diplomatic ambassadors.
In connection with the extension OF
the souths foreign trade. Senator Nc
Laurin advocated an American mer-
chant marine.
"Our weakness upon the sea Is the
one great danger that confronts the
nation" said the senator. "lf ships
could be built in the United States as
cheaply as they arc under other flags
ii would be unnecessary for our gov
crnment to do more than TO Offset the
subsidies, bounties. naval reserves
retainers. and other methods by which
foreign governments attract capital
into merchant ships built and manag-
ed by their own people.
MAY Become a National Peril.
I'VE must not imagine that Ameri-
can capital Is dependent upon nation
al legislation in order to make shiI
owning pay. We have ample evidence
of large American investments In
foreign built ships manned and opc-
rated by foreigners in our foreign
trade. However much our people
may have invested in foreign ships
they are unavailable under national
law when at war as naval auxiliaries
Another thing We should remem-
ber: These very ships and the men
employed on board them may he turn
ed against the United States in the
event OF our becoming involved ir
war with the nation whose nag tncS
fly.
THE object of extending govern
ment aid to the upbuilding OF oul
merchant marine is to secure ade-
quate protection for the nation upon
the sea, and the mere fact that the
investment has been made attractive
/ to American capital Is an incident oi
the transaction.
I'VE do not want to see the 18TH
mian canal become merely a foreign
highway of commerce" said the sena-
tor I'VE do not want our millions
expended merely to become a bounty
to foreign shipping. 1t should be an
American highway. and We should sc
develop our mercantile marine that
with the opening Of this great canal
our own flag shall predominate at the
masthead OF a majority Of the ships
that II accommodates.
THE south will be the Immediate
beneficiary Of that waterway when II
Is constructed"
In conclusion. Senator McLaurin
said: What we need in this country
today Is a non- sectional patriotism
and craftsmanship more devoted to
the upbuilding OF our country than
the achievement Of party success
Great national or business questions
involving the glory OF our public and
the prosperity of our people should
not be dwarfed into mere party ques-
finna0