Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-13
American Sailor Almost Extinct.

thoroughly as doctor, a lawyer or an
electrical engineer.
American Sailor Almost Extinct.
Many years ago, when the Congress Of
the United States passed a subsidy BILL
Senator Frye, who has been the most
steadfast and consistent friend OF the
American merchant marine in either
house Of Congress. insisted upon q pro-
vision requiring every ship that enjoyed
the benefit of government patronage to
carry four cadets-young men who were
ambitious to become sea captains. In
this small way Senator Frye hoped to
develop a profession which requires much
skill, nerve. intelligence and courage
The American sailor Is almost extinct
and the American-born sea captains can
be counted on the fingers of your hand.
There are training ships for sailors in
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and per-
haps other ports, and they have turned
out many good men: our government
never has looked after them. In Germany
the government requires that the Oncers
of a ship, who become responsible for the
lives and welfare of their passengers,
shall have a thorough technical education
and provides the means for them to OBJ
tain it. 1t provides also schools for the
education of men who design and build
the ships, and subsidies technical So
cietr of shipwrights. marine architects
and engineers, which conducts and SUI
pervises Investigations. researches and
experiments in all matters pertaining to
the construction and navigation OF ships.
Another vital rea son for the success OF
the shipbuilding industry in Germany Is
the material announcement that has
been given to shipbuilders and ship own
ers by the government. Prince Won Bis
marck was the first to put into practice a
broad. distinctive and permanent policy
for building up a merchant marine. He
said to the krupps and other iron mas
tiers: I'VE will give YOU orders that will
keep you busy and will pay you large
profit il you will provide the plants" To
this day that promise has been kept in q
most liberal manner. When the govern
ment has no orders OF Its own for the
shipbuilders it goes out and gets them
from other nations.
Object to Dollar Diplomacy.
Our Department Of State, through our
energetic minister at ,Buenos Aires. as.
sisted one Of our shipbuilders to obtain a
contract from the Argentine Republic
and has tried to get orders from China
and other countries. This is really the
first time that such a thing has been
done. and the DIRECTORS call it dollar
diplomacy" When Turkey obtained a
loan from tire bankers OF Berlin the Ger
man government made them put in q
stipulation that one-half the proceeds OF
the loan should be expended in the pur-
chase of ships and military supplies from
German manufacturers. In that way the
skilled workmen who have been trained
the immense plants that have been erect
ed and the producers Of the material re-
quired for ships, guns. armor and engines
have been kept busy. so that they have
not lost their skill or wasted their time.
The German government does not object
to allowing the men who serve IL to
make liberal profit on their orders. On
the contrary. contracts are placed or
such a liberal basis that the manufac tllr-
er is able to keep his shops and tools ur
to date and TO enjoy the reward of his
efficiency. The Congress OF the United
States seems to think 1t is wrong for a
man to make money on q government
contract and any proposition that prom
met by determined opposition when II
comes before our Senate or House OF
| Representatives.
Will Not Charter Bank.
| For example, we have no banking facili.
| ties with Central and South America, and
our exporters and importers pay q tax to
English banking houses for handling their
exchanges. We cell and buy $3.50 OO0, oC
worth OF merchandise in our trade with
our own American neighbors. and we pay
| the British bankers q percentage on tina,
| amount for settling the bills. This Is
| necessary. because We have no direct
means OF settling our own accounts, but
| the Congress of the United States viii
not charter an international bank fol
fear somebody will make some none,
out of IL.
| The first International American confer.
ence reported a scheme for the organiza
| ton of an international American bank
| with headquarters in New York ant
| branches in all the important cities Of