Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1914 — Chance tor Merchant Marine. [ARTICLE]

Chance tor Merchant Marine.

I he house of representatives yesterday passed a bill greatly relaxing our navigation laws, and permitting the registration of foreignbuilt and American owned ships more freely than is now possible. It is to be hoped that the senate will promptly concur in this action. If the bill becomes a law, as it undoubtedly will, it may mark the beginning of a great and permanent expansion of the American merchant t’ urine. Nothing is more encouraging in these daik and gloomy days than the way in which the I resident, congress, the great bankers and the people generally are rising to their responsibilities and opportunities. At last we seem to be getting a world vision, realizing that we now have a chance to become a world power in the only sense in which it is worth while. The old idea of a world power ought to be forever shattered by the war that is now raging. The da,y of the conqueror, we may hope, has forever gone by. But a nation may legitimately strive for leadership in industry, finance and commerce, provided it is willing to use its power wisely and for the good of all. Commerce, unlike war, is a thing by v hich al} may and do benefit. It involves co-operation and mutual helpfulness. The American people can engage in no trade by which the other parties to it will not benefit. We ought to get rid of the old high tariff fallacy that one can not win in trade unless some one else loses. In this matter of a merchant marine there is no reason whatever why all ships owned by American citizens should not be admitted to American registry and allowed to sail under the American flag. Nor is there any reason why this arrangement should not be permanent. As long as we insist that our merchant marine should be wholly built in this country we may be very stire

that we shall have none worth sidering. We have tried monopoly, and it has failed. Now we are going to try a little freedom. The bill ought promptly to become a law. With a big fleet of sea-going ships protected by the American flag we shall be able to make money, and at the same time Vo render to the world a great and needed service.—lndianapolis News.