New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-27
|SMAY'S CONDUCT UPHELD
American Merchant Marine As.
ISOLATION Out with Statement.
INSTEAD ATTACKS SENATE
Calls Inquiry "Senseless and
Farcical"-Members Are
Federal Licensees.

| The American Merchant Marine Assoc,,.
ton issued a statement through IT'S couns.,
and general manager. Luther b. Dow. yes.
terday. unfolding the conduct Of J. BrlIc.
Ismay, director OF the International Mer.
camille Marine, throughout the happening.
attendant on the sinking of the Titanic
and, praising the liner as the latest word
In marine construction and safety eauip-
ment.
The statement condemned the attitude q,
the Senate investigating committee. AMI
maintained that the body conducting ths
Investigation was responsible for lack NJ
safety for life at sea through failure 10
enact laws compelling ocean-going vessels
to carry sufficient lifesaving equipment 10
accommodate all on board.
The association responsible for the state-
ment Is a society Of masters, mates pilot,
and engineers of steam vessels holding IL
censes from the federal government Under
these conditions the officers OF the lost shin
holding their licenses from the British goy.
eminent, would not be members of the or.
ganization.
The officers of the association, as given
out yesterday at It's offices, No. q State
street, are as follows: President, John +.
Dwyer; vice-presidents, Charles A. Eng
strom and George Rudischhsuser, and sec
rotary, Wilbur e. Dow.
The statement follows:
Whereas, from close study and exam.
connection with the building, operation ana
sinking OF the steamship Titanic, the Amer
icsn Merchant Marine Association, Com
posed OF licensed masters, engineers and
other officers of steam and sailing vessels,
feeling that much OF the information given
TO the public regarding the appalling acct
dent Of the sinking Of the ship Is erroneous
and misleading and that gross injustice Is
being done TO the owners OF the said vessel
and 10 the memory OF the brave captain.
officers and crew who lost their lives in
the performance of duty, regards It as its
| solemn duty to all concerned to place itself
on record as follows:
That in the building OF the Titanic every
thing was done that shipbuilding and
gineering science could suggest 10 make
her safe--that, in fact, she represented
when launched and ready for sea the last
word In naval science; that she was
equipped with Iifesaving and every other
appliance in strict compliance with law;
that her discipline, management and naN-
cation across the Atlantic TO the final mo-
ment when she disappeared beneath two
miles Of water were Ideal ana perleCt allI
In accordance with the highest standards
OF custom and practice; that her captain.
with forty years of spotless and eincient
service To his credit remaincd falthiul 10
his record TO the last and died WIN Ms
ship in manner exemplifytng the best
traditions of the unwritten law OF the sea
and that not even IN single instance was
there an officer or other member OF. re
crew who failed TO perform his outy tNV'
the highest type of bravery. 5..-t
And, further. the American Merchant
Marine Association cannot too strong
condemn the aSperslons attempted 10 20
, MIR. Isinay. the managing director or me
White Star Line. who we are certain Dc
haved with propriety and galiantiE uu'
ing the trying ordeal TO Wnlcn ne Va
in the water. and its members feel keehE
hu,niIiated al the spectacle presented 10y
a committee of the United states Sehsl"
now holding d senselesS ana IafclSd' IT.
vestigation or the subject IN NasH.nS H. ~
And, further. we desire to remind me
neople OF the United states that me
statesmen now making the most NOISE ~.
this Investigation. together wifh tnoSs. 0'
England VINO guide the policy or tneo4Ql,
ish Board of Trade, are the guilty. anu
responsible agents for any unsafetN ina
may exist I'm the opera uon or equlpHIe.t
~ steamships, through their failure 10
enact proper laws to govern in the prem.
Uses and their utter disregard OF any o.
the recommends tons made from time 10
time by the men who go down 10 the -"
in ships. ..u ..,o,,,
mend that the government Will ma a2ln'
way to have an intelligent inVestgauous;
if We must have one. ny soine oG paw =.
authority possessing at least some Know
edge of the things to he investigated, -
that good instead of injury may result AZ
a consequence of the appalling loss OF ~
and property in TINS, the sdupeeL ~
latest OF sea disasters -is-f
Mr.. Dow gave out at the same time
letter which he had sent 10 tho Quarter-
master General at Washington on Aprb =
two DAVIS before the Titanic sailed on ner
fatal voyage. calling his attention TO he
fact that the General Randol, an army tne
pjying between Portland. Me, and ror'
Mckinley. was insuficiently provided with
lifesaving equipment lie mentioned Sp"'
officially In the letter one trip ot the tus'
made two days before the date 90 the Jet
ter on which she carried So persons though
her two small boats had capacity OF onN
Il and her life preservers provided for l~
more at most
Having received no answer TO thit conn
munication by April % MIR Dow sent an
other letter to the War Department Wnl'"
drew forth an answer dated A0rti a, stat
ing that the matter had been referred 10
m. local authorities and that any action
necessary would be taken as soon AZ th'
proper information was received.
"Thev probably would never have been
written had It not been for tho sinking OF
the Titanic" remarked Mr. Dow. In refer
ence TO the letter from Washington.
SAY N. Y. G. HOLDS UP HAY