Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1905 — UNCLE SAM BUYING ABROAD [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM BUYING ABROAD

“John D. Rookfeller is a machine”, flays Miss Tarbell. Yes, and well oiled. It needs no clairvoyant to tell what is going to happen to that new tarriff revision program when it once gets into the National Senate. “I stand” Senator Depew says, “on my honor and my conscience.” Mr. Depew, alas! is not the first man to “trample” those qualities font. In nearly 100 years the government has received only $400,000 for its conscience fund. Which is an indication that the larger the graft the smaller the conscience. Governor Hanly, it seems, has not got around as yet to sit on the lid at Cedar Lake, and the twentytwo saloons surrounding that picturesque picnic resort don’t know when Sunday comes.

One of New York’s Society leaders is being ostracized because she married her coachman. gjHad she been up-to-date she would have married her chauffer. That is the fashion now.

An lowa clergyman declares that women are largely responsible for the financial rascality of the times. That sort of ungallaut talk has been going on ever since Adam whined that the "woman gave him the apple and he did eat it.”

Out in Montana, Heinze and Clark have formed a new political alliance. Clark wants a return ticket to the Senate and Hienze a legislature and friendly judiciary. Always remember, gentle reader, that ours is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Kight Ship* I’urchaaed In China For thr i'hlllpplnra. It will surprise a good many old fashioned Republicans to know that under our protective tariff system even the Chinese can l>eat us building ships, ▲nd 'wtfiat will cause greater surprise la the fact that this government contracted with the Whampoa Shipbuilding company, whose yards are about twelve miles from Canton, China, to construct eight ships for service In the Insular possessions of the United States in the orient. During the past year these eight vessels have been launched and delivered at Manila. In reporting this news the Washington Post says: The eight boats launched were IGO feet long, of 1.000 horsepower, and their contracts culled for a speed of twelve knots an hour. Some of them developed a speed of one-sixth of a knot better than this over their trial courses. They cost the government In no case less than 186.000 each. Although Chinese help is used at Whampoa wherever available, it is said that the ships could be constructed here at the same cost. Captain Harry Strue, formerly of the United States transport Hancock, Aipervlsed the building of these ships and saw that they were delivered at Manila. He was acting under Commander James Helm, captuln of the port of Manila. It is said that nothing concerning the launching of these vessels appeared in the Canton newspapers because a request had been made to refrain from making anything public about the American ships at the Whampoa yards. It can hardly lie possible that, as the Post says, the ships could have l>een contracted for here at the same coat, ,for to give this large contract to a for•ign firm and thus deprive our shipyards and workmen of the profit and work Is not believable unless the price was Jess. It Is well known that the shipbuilding trust and the steel trust have for years held up Uncle Sam for building ships and armor plate, and if the price asked for the building of these eight ships was unreasonable the administration did perfectly right In going elsewhere. But why the secrecy? Why not be open and aboveboard In the matter? Did our Republican officials fear the trusts or the people? -