Speech #630407112

Naturally we are a seafaring people. In the early days a large portion of the people of this country were engaged in seafaring pursuits. Many of the immigrants who had come to this country had come from those parts of the wore which even now are active in everything pertaining to seafaring life. and yet we have notdeveloped. but have constantly. in proportion to our foreign trade. decreased our merchant marine. We pay for the transportation of the products of American ..soil more than $200.000.000 a year. That is one of the great -items which enter into making up the balance of trade which stands against this country or which may stand in favor of this