The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-23
AN ACCOMMODATING REAR-ADMI-

!
RAJ.
The Navy League, which, as the New
York Nation tersely but comprehen-
sively observes. believes lin forced
draft battleships-pald for by forced
drafts upon the -payers-nnd In a
merchant marine nursed into being and
kept alive by artificial food" recently
asked Rcur-Admiral Chadwick for his
views as to the restoration of our mcr-
chant feet. Admiral Chadwick proved
accommodatlng-to accommodating
for tho comfort of tho leaguers. It
would appear Tho League received an
answer. but not such a ons, IT Is en-
tirely competent to infer, as 1t desired
Hero Is the initial declaration in tho
admirars reply:
u would say that I am not In favor
OF subsidies of any kind think that
all that Is necessary to restore our
shipping is to abolish the Cromwellian
laws which now stand on our statute
books. and thus give our ship owners
chance. our overseas carrying trade
has been protected to death, literally"
This somewhat ruthless and evident
ly surprising blow at the leagues fet-
ish tho admiral follows up with an
other. which he lands on about tn,
same tender spot Thus it is Dolly
cred:
All The subsidies. nursing and cod
diing in TIL, world can't avail against
our present brutality ignorant ana un-
businoss-likc system. 1 hava had thes.
as ever"
However, Admiral Chadwick, having
gotten his "aghting Jacket" on and
his hand well in, was not dispos sd. 1t
seems TO stop short of giving complete
satisfaction. He therefore proceeds to
hammer into demolition the arguments
in favor o: their cause the American
subsidists have based on the British
subsdization policy. He proves by
facts and ngures that the promises OF
our subzidists are false and their de-
ducuons forced and absurd. The Brit
ish government. he aiiirms and demon
strates, does not substitute at all. in
the sense in which our ship builders
would have Us dc in this country.
Finally. and to adapt Il part OF the
Nations review Of his reply, the admi-
raj quotes the secrstary-general OF
the Hamburg American Line, Herr HUI
demann. as citing the experience of
England and Germany TO show that
with virtually no Bubsidies-the small
ast per ton of merchant feet of any in
Europe-England and Germany couIu
Immensely increase their aeets' in the
decade prior to 1909, England by al
most 100000 tons, and GERMANY by
more than 100000 tons. Herr Hulde-
mann sees clearly that the lack Of
growth In other countrios must in part
DO ascribed to the false educational
influence the system OF subsidies is ex-
ercising by the fact that it makes this
receiver OF the subsidy government
pensioner ana spares him the trouble
Of earning his bread by his own '.t-
forts"
At the last. the solution, and the
only solution. OF the problem of rcstor-
ing our merchant marine lies. as Ad-
miral Chadwick makes unchallengeably
plain. and, as the Nation remlnds us.
Grover Cleveland held, in free ships
and in opening the doors to competi-
tive ship building.
And TO that complexion there is graf
lying evidence 1t is coming. since
some of the most pcrfervid subsidist
members CT tho Chamber of Commerce
OF New York, at the late meeting OF
The body to consider the free ship is
sue. admitted that the hydra headed
snip subsidy monster had been prac-
tiea!ly wounded unto death