The Delta independent., 1922-11-03
HIS PARTY WRONG
SAYS DEMOCRAT

Washington, Oct. 31.-(Special COR
respondence)-"I am a Democrat, but
my thorough study of this subject
has convinced me that my party is
wrong in its opposition to shipping
subsidy" exclaimed former Senator
George E. Chamberlain, of Oregon, in
an address before the City Club of
Washington few days ago. And he
supported his views by a convincing
array of facts and arguments that
show the soundness of the Republican
attitude.
That the most important reason for
the building and maintenance of an
| American merchant marine is related
to the national defense, was the first
assertion of the speaker. He recall
ed the fact that during the Spanish
American war we were dependent
upon foreign transports for the carry
ing of our men and supplies across
the Pacific, and also asserted that
when President Roosevelt sent the
American fleet around the world, the
battleships could not have gone even
as far as Honolulu without the aid of
colliers and supply ships operated
under foreign flags and employed by
the United States Government. If
those auxiliaries had deserted the
flet abroad, it could not have return
ed home. At the beginning of our
participation in the war in Europe.
we were dependent upon foreign
ships or Communicated foreign ships
for transportation Of our men and
fsupplies.
Discussing the subjects from the
Istandpoints of finance, Senator Cham.
tberlain said that in the last 100 years
we have expended only billion dol
lars on the improvement of rivers
and harbors as aids to our commerce,
while in the same time we have paid
foreign ships twenty-eight billion dol
lars to carry our foreign commerce.
yet there are some people who will
condemn Congress for extravaganza
in river and harbor appropriations" /"
His exposure of the greater expendi-
lures of American money for the sup
port of foreign ships was greeted
with hearty applause.
As another means of illustrating
| AAs another means of illustrating
the unsoundness of employing foreign
ships to carry our goods, he said that
in the past seven years we have paid
out $4,000, 100000 for the carrying in
our foreign commerce. sum nearly
equal to the debts foreign countries
owe us.
Senator Chamberlain expressed the
kindliest feeling toward the British
people and said the ties OF blood rela
tionship ought to make impossible
any war between them and the people
Of the United States. but this is NJ
reason why we should hesitate t.
/ adopt plans that will insure the car
rying on of the major portion o
American commerce in American
ships. 1--WE do not aspire to carry
major portion OF that part OF worl'
commerce that flows in and out o
our own ports" That we are in NJ
danger of approaching Great Britain
fposition in world commerce he ind
Gated by saying that our effective
merchant ships have carrying capa
city only about % per cent OF that o
Tic 6Hipb Lndt bdi uhuCi thC LII Aehcs
flag.
Statistics were presented showing
the lower cost Of operating ships un
der German, Japanese and other for
Iieign flags. and the assertion wal
made that unless the United States II
willing to retire entirely from the
seas and leave the carrying OF heI
goods to her competitors. this coun
try must either go down to the for
eign standard Of wages and living OF
must adopt the policy Of aiding ouI
,shipping by some sort Of subsidy
FHe insisted that the policy OF protec
tion which has been applied to our in
dustries- agriculture, manufacturing
ETC., must alsoetc., must also be exten
etc, must also be extended to the
merchant marine. which he asserted
lis one of the most important Of all.
Observations from the dance halls
sometimes suggest that the so-called