The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-06-10
Our Merchant Marine.

licans and the Republican party gen
orally have sought 10 place upon the
statute books Of tho nation legislation
for the purpose Of fostering and Gre
aung q merchant marine. During all
that time tho Democratic party. with
thG' assistance Of few Republicans
has been strong enough TO prevent the
enactment OF this legislation. Now,
from the ncccrpitira Of war We are to
have u great merchant marine. After
the war We shall need legislation guar
anteeing that II shall survive against
foreign competition, which competition
IL fortified by chrapness Of operation
secured through tho sacrince OF human
values. FREQ trnde in ships was the
death-knell OF II once great American
merchant neet IL will drive from the
zoos tho fleets wa are now creating. as
it has drivnn other fleets in the past,
and compel them 10 seek the adYan-
tngnS OF foreign registry with is paul
per wage scale and cheupencd cost Of
operation. West Virginia. with her
great resources and her now and grow
ing industrial life, Is viiauy Interested
In this question Of American occu'
pancy Of tho ocean trnde routes. Both
our state and nation have learned that
d great merchant marine is essential
to national security In time OF war, as
well as an assurance OF national pros.
perity In time OF peace.
Tariff Barriers Necessary.
Since we entered the war we have
loaned to Our European allies several
billion dollars. Unless the Republican
party is restored to power and the pro-
tective policy preserved. this gener-
osity will be used by our present al
lies. then our commercial competitors,
for our undoing Gold will be scarce
after the war, especially in all the
debt-ridden European countries: the
demand will be made that We accept
payment OF these debts not IN gold
but In goods. Acquiescence in that de-
mand Will mean that American mills
and mines must be closed and Ameri-
can farms be made Improbable. be-
cause whatever we accept OF European
products will displace just that much
OF similar American products and les.
sen the employment OF American labor
The pressure for the abandonment OF
our American tariff policy BY our for
eigu debtors will introduce 4 new fac
tor into the free trade propaganda one
OF the most objectionable and danger
GUS forms Of foreign propaganda in
the United States. Our foreign debt
ors should be required TO surrender the
American securities they possess in
settlem emit OF their debts to US, rather
than to swamp our markets with goods
in payment Of their obligations 10 us.
At the close Of the Franco-Pussian
war an indemnity OF five billion francs
was imposed upon France by Ger
many. In the payment Of that debt
vast amounts Of French products were
sent into Germany and as result
French Industry at once revived and
German industry temporarily was de:
France became prosperous
and Germany underwent hard times"
History IN this respect will repeat
Itself in this country unless We restore
Lhe tariff barriers which s.c1d for the
differences Ia the American and for
eign standards OF wages and living.
SaISSI 'SIIl SHC VI IOliAs
The danger from Europe is greatly
ess than that which comforts US from
he Orient. Japan has vastly in
creased her merchant marine and her
Industrial equipment during the past
'ew years. NagasaM has the second
srgest steel mill in the world. China
las a huge steel plant at Hankow,
where men and women work at wages
II from ten to twenty cents per day.
One Of the largest steel plants in the
world has recently been erected in the
'alley Of the Ganges with unlimited
abor available at from six TO twelve
tents day. Under the existing tlTif
aw our markets would be sacrificed
n this sort OF competition. Water
freight rates from the Orient to San
Francisco are cheaper than rail freight
ates from West Virginia to the Md.
lie West Already Japanese imports
nto the United States have Increased
o on alarming extent that will be ap-
injurious as soon as the enor.
nous war exports have ceased The
aTmers and wage earncrs OF West
Virginia cannot com pete with the men
- hOOC UAiAOi III loIlSISIS III IL nI6pCn-
10th. whose diet consists OF handful
II rice a day. and who can live on
Fhat the average American household
wastes, unless they are ready to 70
rpou the coolie basis OF living: This
8 impossible. and the effort 10 equallze
rlr conditions OF employment with
bose Of Asia. South America and
europe would wreck our citizenship
We cannot, therefore, as good Amer
cans, consent to The removal OF all
economic barriers and the establish.
oent OF an equality OF trade conditions
.monG all nations" We reject that
rs sacrifice Of American
interests which nothing CAN justify e1-
aDt the grim necessity of surrender
ne 10 conQueror.
Help Labor.
Sweeping Industrial changes have
ccompanted the present war. Stand.
rds OF other days have broken down
nd new era OF labor has opened I'D.
: .deVolves upon the nations law
makers to shape atYajrn 50 that the
iEhcst possible result Will follow the
host wonderful industrial effort OF the
&c. The new industrial day brings
Many cherished hopes and aspirations
the workers. into a full realization
hruuSh changes canscd BY war and
hose In official position arc in duty
ound to surround this situation with
elpiul Legislative aids which will se.
nre 'ts permanence. Labor has shown
sen 10 be a power whose potency and
1lciency are absolutely essential TO
The war. Every legislative
rootem to advance the interests Of
.nerica's vast army OF workers who
oil with brain and hands during and
Ter the war should receive the ap.
roval and support Of nil men In
'iicsai station. and 10 that end pledgp