Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-09-16
ARTICLE s.

ping bOhiQ.
ARTICLE 5.
Modern civilization is an economic
one The basis OF all economic civ
'ilzation is transportation Coal and
oil may be only snomentarily 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 | undertook 10
demonstrate how, up to the time Of
the Civil War, America, had develop
ed a 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
@ self-sufficient and self-contained
nation. having need of world trade
only in small measure for the dlspo-
sitlon of SURPRISES and to pay with
them the moneys borrowed for on
development our creditors wer
largely the leading maritime nation
of the world. and they sent 'H.
ships to receive the goods in
ment OF what we owed them
Americas Position Altered.
In the last decades. though. Amer
lea has changed FROM self-con.
tanned aud selt-sufncient 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
tions
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
hnds 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 Ia evidenced by the cry of the
sixteen great agricultural states.
ranging from our central valleys to
the Pacific, with population of over
forty 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 thousand miles nearer
10 the valleys of production
Thus the farmer admits the very
essential necessity to his prosperity
OF water carriage abroad. Even the
most ardent prepayment OF our inland
waterway development can no longer
feel thore is any possibility Of sue
cess 10 the venture unless we have
assurance OF ships under our own
hag.
Subsidy Comparable To Tariff.
The world has completely changed
In consequence Of the late war. and
no nation s needs have changed more
than America 4. 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-
tions and changed needs
II is often asked by those who are
living in the shadows OF other DAYS.
why tho farmer should he required
20 contribute 10 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 manufacturer and
all OF us. is subsidized. and very
properly To the extent OF our needs
Subsidy for ships is the identical
thing that tari6 protection Is to home
production
At the hearings held by the Joint
Committee OF the Senate and House
in relation 10 the proposed subsidy
legislation, MIR J Il Howard. Presi-
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 q limited period
(Which is the view OF the Harding
Administration. careful study by
experts appointed by the Federation
had led him 10 testify in behalf OF
and 10 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
fact. because he IS able to visualize
the rail TRANSFORMATION and dnaa ,nt