The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-20
British and American Ships.
Issue in the Annual Election of the
Maritime Association Of New York.

Issue in the Annual Election of the
Maritime Association of New York.
The Maritime Association of the
port of New York will hold its an
nual election next Tuesday, and a
question of unusual importance forms
the main issue between the two par
ties. It is. briefly, the struggle be-
tween English and foreign interests
fer the control of the exchange.
This may sound startling, but it
is not an exaggeration of the real
condition of things. Capt C. B. Par
sons, the candidate of the American
party, has been a member Of The ex-
change for fifteen years, and is nomi-
mated to succeed himself as presi-
dent The younger and more pro-
gressive element of this party is rep
resented by f. S. Pendleton, of Pen
dletoh Brothers, a man of thirty
four. already identified with meas
ures for the benefit of American ship
ping, who is associated with Captain
Parsons on the ticket
On the other side we find George
L. Woolley, an Englishman by birth,
local manager for large English
steamship firm, who has never filed
any Office in connection with the
Maritime Exchange. The issue as
stated by Mr.. Woolley is this:
We are opposed to the present president be
ing reelected, because he fsvors the control By
American tonnage OF the transport trade He
favors measures in Congress, you know, arrang-
ing things so merchandise can be shipped 20
the Philippines only in American bottoms.
NOM % per cent Of the business is controlled
by ErElish tonnage and Of course we don't
want to have that changed
That seems to be fairly clear and
definite It is not necessary to be a
victim OF Anglophobia, a malady
which under existing conditions in
dicates a certain effectiveness Of Wis
ion and weakness CT brain, to recog-
nize the fact that at certain points
our interests and those of Great Brit
ain are in conflict, and that the
greatest friction between the two
countries has thus far occurred in
sea problems. Great Britain did all
she could to hamper and injure our
navy at the beginning, and we have
always had more or less difficulty IN
inducing her to recognize our right
to our share of the seas. This bold
attempt to get control of our biggest
and most important, and in some re-
spects most un-American seaport.
and interfere with the Development
Of our carrying trade, is of a piece
with the whole history of our rela-
tons with England as a sea power.
To a great extent the interests of tie
two countries are Identical; it is to
the interests of both to secure open
ports, clear seas, safe harbors, devei-
opment of trade wherever possible;
those are matters which concern the
whole civilized world. But the ad-
vantage which England gained by
the superior condition of her navy
and merchant marine early in the
last century will not be relinQuished
by her without a struggle. and if she
sees any way by which she can re-
tain that supremacy at our expense
no considerations of kinship viii
hinder her from doing so. II is 10
the credit OF New York that her big
shipping firms are making so good a
fight for their rights. and it is to be
hoped that the rest of the country
will stand by them.