Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-08-10
ARTICLE 5.
ping Boar

ARTICLE s.
Modern civilization is an economic
one. The basis OF all economic civ
ilizatiOn is transportation. Coal and
oil may be only momentarily basic
fuels; it is possible some other fuel
may be discovered. Fuel in one
form or another will always be basic
to transportation and transportation
in one form or another is basic to
exchange Of goods.
In my first article l undertook to
demonstrate how, up to the time Of
the Civil War, America, had develop
ed strong merchant marine, and to
sketch the conditions surrounding
our practical disappearance from the
sea between the time of the Civil
War and the World War.
During this latter period we were
a self-sufficient and self-contained
nation, having need Of world trade
only in small measure for the dispo-
sition of SURPRISES and to pay with
them the moneys borrowed for our
development. Our creditors were
largely the leading ma. thine nations
of the world, and they sent tlei:
ships TO receive The goods in pay
ment of what we owed them
Americas Position Altered.
In the last decades, though, Amer
lea has changed from self-con-
tained and seif-sufficient nation TO
one that now must look across the
waters for many Of its needs. Our
manufacturers must look across the
sea both for markets and raw ma
terials; our agricultural sections
must sell their surplus to other ma
tons.
II we are to keep our industries
going, We must make sure of a steady
flow of those materials which we
need and must insure prompt and
continuous delivery of manufactured
wares and raw materials which we
wish to give in exchange for that
which we buy.
Thus the manufacturer can see,
in the changing conditions America
finds itself, that in the ultimate his
very life may be dependent on the
existence Of an American merchant
marine. No less interest has the
farmer. His interest In the merchant
marine is evidenced by the cry of the
sixteen great agricultural states,
aging from our central valleys to
lott ~
orty million people, for the develop
ment Of the Great Lakes-St. Law
renee waterway the Lake to the Gulf
waterway, and the widening and
deepening of our rivers, including
the Mississippi, intended to bring
the seacoast a thousand miles nearer
to the valleys Of production.
Thus the farmer admits the very
essential necessity to his prosperity
Of water carriage abroad Even the
most ardent proponent of our inland
waterway development can no longer
feel there is any possibility OF sue
cess to the venture unless we have
assurance Of ships under our own
flag.
Subsidy Comparable To Tariff
The world has completely changed
in consequence Of the late war; and,
no nations needs have changed more
than Americas. Therefore, the old
arguments that existed against the
necessity of merchant marine, no
longer hold. But unfortunately mil
lions, including the farmer, have not
had time or opportunity to develop
the facts as to the changed condi-
tons and changed needs
1t is often asked by those who are
living in the shadows of other days,
why the farmer should be required
to contribute to a subsidy for ships,
when the product Of the farm re-
mains unsubsidized Such, of course.
IS far from the fact; because, In the
protection given by the tariff, the
farmer, like the manufactures and
all of us, is subsidized. and very
properly, to the extent of our needs
Subsidy for ships is the Identical
thing that tariff protection is to home
production
At the hearings held by the joint
Committee of the Senate and House
IN relation to the proposed subsidy
legislation, Mr.. J. r. Howard, Presf-
dent of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, testified that while his
association was opposed to subsidies
in principle, and certainly to sub
sides save for a limited period
(Which Is the view of the Harding
ADMINISTRATOR, a careful study by
experts appointed by the Federation
had led him TO testify In behalf of
and to urge the enactment of the
legislation proposed for the mer-
chant marine.
Merchant marine rates. said Mr..
Howard, "are just as Important as
railroad rates to the farmer. The |
farmer may not always realize this |
TACT, because he Is able to visualize |
the rail transportation and does not |
frequently come in contact with |
ocean traffic. It is a distinct factor, |
however, In the price OF his COM |
moditfes, for the surplus of our
crops sold abroad largely sets the |
price of those commodities in this
Farmer vitality Concerned