Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1906 — SHIP SUBSIDY SCHEME. [ARTICLE]

SHIP SUBSIDY SCHEME.

railaer of the Arcaaeati Set Foeth la Ita Favor. In a public document entitled “hearings before the committee on merchant marine and fisheries of the house of representatives on senate bill 529- 1 the shipping bill of the merchant marine commission—April 4 to April 19, 1906,” there is a report favoring that bill by Admiral Dewey, president of the general board, navy department, dated Washington, Nov. 23, 1905, which shows the attitude of that department toward the ship subsidy scheme. The report says: “In case of operations of a large nature over seas, the needs of the army would be great, and the existence of a large fleet of American owned vessels available at once for conversion into transports or supply ships would be of great importance in expediting the departure of troops and in supplying them after departure:” And again the report says: “Another benefit which would accrue to the navy from a large fleet of American owned merchant vessels would He in the large number of experienced seagoing men, engineers aud firemen accustomed to marine engines and boilers, who would form a valuable reserve from which to draw the mtn for manning the auxiliaries.” Mr. Schwab could hardly have made a better plea for the use of the products of the steel trust, or Mr. Baer for the coal trust, or Mr. Du Pont for the powder trust. The secretary of war, Mr. Taft, also submitted a reporj, flo the committee, which will be found in the same volume. He pleaded for a merchant marine, “which will permit the United States to put forth its entire military strength at any distance and In any direction.” This is exactly in line with the idea of the navy department and was undoubtedly Inspired by the president, who, in his message to congress, Dec. 5, 1905, said: “To the spread of our trade In peace and the defense of our flag in war a great and prosperous merchant marine is indispensable. We should have ships of our own and seamen of oar own to convey our goods to neutral markets and in case of need to re-enforce our battle line. It cannot but be a great source of regret and uneasiness to us that the lines of communication with our sister republics of South America should be chiefly under foreign control.” Our “battle line” and “our sister republics of South America,” Santo Domingo and Venezuela especially, are always In the minds of all die members of the present administration. Foreign conquest leans on ship subsidies and on grafting contracts with the producers of steel, coal, powder and beef. It Is only a means of reconciling the people who pay these subsidies and extortionate prices to the grafting process upon the false notion that it is glorious to subdue and exploit weak nations. Experience shows that, except for use as transports, merchant vessels are worthless in war, for the much faster torpedo boats have superseded the fastest merchant vessels as scouts. Why pay a subsidy to the Morgan ship trust, which would be worthless to us in war and Is useless to us In peace?