Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-25

October q, the birthday Of President Theodore
Roosevelt, who saw so clearly the relation Of sea power
70 the growth Of the nation in world influence and
prosperity. has been designated by the Navy League
Of the United States as Navy Day, and a general effort
is being made for observance Of the day throughout the
nation.
The message Of this years Navy Day is the i'm
portsnce TO the country, the farmer and manufacturer
Of ~seapower and Commerce. Seapower rests upon
the merchant marine, the navy and the radiating activi-
ties Of commerce.
The fact is obvious that our present prosperity Is
becoming more and more dependent upon our over
seas markets. The success Of our foreign trade bears
directly on the well doing Of every citizen. In order
TO maintain and develop our markets abroad in the
years Of keen world commercial competition that are
ahead Of us. the United States should be prepared prop
erly to support, develop and guard its radiating trade
activities. To this end a reliable system Of overseas
transportation under our own flag is essenton. No sue
cessful business organization can be dependent upon a
competitor for the delivery Of it's goods, and expect 70
obtain the same results. In such matters 1t IS neees-
sary to retain a reasonable independence.
In time Of peace a nation which is dependent upon
others for the transportation Of its overseas trade,
places its citizens in the position Of being subject to
the dictates Of foreign shipping interests in the mat
ter Of ocean freight rates. Today our shippers are
sending a golden stream out Of the country in pay
ment for the carrying of their goods in foreign ships.
This amounts yearly TO several hundred million dollars.
A good proportion " this stream should ne going into
our own ships and through them brought back to the
United States to reorgsnize business and labor in the
activities connected with shipbuilding. ship repair and
provisioning.
A nation without q merchant marine Is subject TO
periodic shortage Of sea transportation during times
of industrial unrest in other countries. and a conse-
quent reduction in its foreign trade. During the re-
cent British coal strike. If it had not been for our
own fleet and the fact that the shipping board was able
to commission a number Of laid-up vessels, the wheat
and cotton growers Of the nation would have sustain
ed heavy losses. Ships are but an overseas extension
Of the railroads, which move the product Of the farm
and factory into the great markets Of the world pro-
ducing wealth for those nations which are best equip
ned to render service for the producers and eonsum-
es of the voxld.
Overseas trade, the merchant marine and the navy
are links in what constitute seapower. The United
States should realize more fully the Importance Of
seapower and its relation to the industrial and COM
pressing these facts upon the American people Navy
Day has been designated, and its sponsors are conf
merciaI life of the nation. With the objective Of i'm
dent that through its observance the maritime power
of the United States will be enhanced by popular IN
derstanding OF the needs Of seapower and government
support in increasing the efficiency and extent Of
American shipping.