Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-17
OUR ALL-IMPORTANT NEED
OF A MERCHANT MARINE


One Of the timeliest and deftest acts of the
Panama Canal Conference. held last week in At
Ianta was its resolution on the vital need of up
building the nations merchant marine Opinion
is divided as to the particular plan by which the
Government should approach this important task
but every one agrees that something should be
done and done promptly. Without committing
itself to any specific policy. the Canal Conference,
speaking in behalf Of Southern interests, respec-
lively urged that the Congress Of the United
States formulate and carry into effect, at the
earliest possible moment definite and practical leg
isIdtion sOhich t0tI giUe all necessary and
able encouragement to American nperchdnt marine
and American commerce Nth foreign countries"
Around this broad principle. all thoughtful citi-
zens and all progressive statesmen may rally, how
ever diverse their views on particular means and
methods may be. 1t may unwise for the
Government to subsidize any special interest or
undertaking. but no deny that in one way or
another, the Government should encourage and GER
tainly not discourage, the development of Ameri
can merchant marine. Until that is done, may
not hope to reap the due benefits of the Panama
Canal which has been built at own expense,
nor to achieve proper place in the commerce of
the world.
without ships of their own in which to carry
ind the Canal a menace rather than advantage.
They will find foreign interests virtually monopo-
liking the enterprise which was initiated by Amer
lean hardhood and accomplished by American
money. The Canal will open new markets and will
release of opportunity, but unless this
nation is prepared traffic with those markets and
to seize those opportunities they will fall to others
profit and enjoyment
General Robert X Evans, commander of the De
If he C~If in he COD-
ference dwelt cogently on the need of the United
States being prepared to maintain its military
rights and ownership of the Canal Unless we are
strong enough protect the great ditch, said he,
il viii prove a Pandoras box of trouble. Our navy
and especially our army he declared, are mad
equate for that purpose; and all history admonishes
US Of the importance OF making ready to meet any
challenge which the future may bring for covetous
ness is still keen in nations in men.
II this be true in respect to military inter
ests the Canal. it is more in respect to
commercial interests; if preparedness is ltial
in the first case ii is vastly so, in the second.
AS conditions now are, the United States is
almost helpless against European competition in all
foreign commerce and particularly in foreign COM
merce that will pass through the Canal Only nine
merchantmen in the transatlantic trade are owned
by Americans The English, the contrary, own
some thirteen thousand, the Germans four thousand
and other nations are proportionately well equipped
The shameful fact is that the United States flag is
practically unknown in the trade Of the high seas
distinguished American traveller recently testified
that he went from New York to India and did not
once see his nations flag until he reached the har-
Dor Of Ceylon where was anchored a private Amer
lean yacht. He sailed through the Suez canal and
found that OF the millions of tonnage which go
that route every year mot ton was carried in
American bottoms" Similar observations have been
made IN ali the norris of the Old World and in the
ports Of Central and South America.
What does this mean? Simply that the foreign
trade of the United States is being conducted under
AS one keen student Of the situation has described
Il,
I'VE hare TO ship IN English liners, in Ger
man liners, in Dutch liners in French liners
Our trade has to start t0here the English,
French. German and Dutch merchants ind it
Convenient that It should start and make for
the markets tChich English French, Dutch ana
German merchants hare established for them
SeIUes and fortified against Suppose you
Cere running a great department store and, in
order TO serUe your customers you had to use
the tcagOns of TiUaI department storeg You
tCouId be in precisely the same predicdment
our foreign trade is in"
For this condition of affairs, the narrow policy
Of our Government itself is responsible. 1t has
treated a matter that is worldwide from point of
view that is provincial. The old law forbidding
the American registry of any vessel not built
on American shores evidently passed
IS a measure of patronage to certain shipbuilding
concerns Just as most of the Republican tariff
schedules were designed to protect special interests
against natural competition. But the effect of the
law has been merely to force American merchants,