The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-16
The most manifest sign of wisdom is
continued Observation-Disclosures.
The Volturno.


In mid-Atlantic, under the pail of night, bat
tered by storm and covered by flames the Vol
turno went down with loss of 1856 lives. Not
many marine tragedies have been more appa-
ing and none have occurred in more tragic cir
cumstances. The sheer pathos of the event be-
comes intolerable to one who permits his lmagl-
nation to dwell upon it,
But now, after the shock has passed, the
usual procedure of investigation, charges and
counter-charges will be launched and number
less invectives hurled against the steamship line.
1t will be accused of negligence, charged with
evadng the laws, and condemned for a too mea-
gre equipment of safety appliances.
In all probability these charges will be just
fable at least for the most part, and all the Sc
we're structures made will help to bring about
needless reforms in marine service. But there
is one side to the question often overlooked
which it will be best for the public to keep in
mind.
1t has become almost impossible for trans
Atlantic vessels to maintain discipline on board
ship or retain a trained crew. Voyages are
often made by the best equipped steamers with
green crew and hardly any semblance of sea-
manship.
For this there are several reasons, chief
among which is the impossibility of making a
binding contract with employees. When the
wanderlust lays hold of man and sends him on
the seas his mastering desire is to see as much
of the world as possible. Consequently he ships
on a vessel in New York, leaves it at Liverpool,
takes another for South America, leaves for one
going elsewhere and remains a wanderer. 1t is
manifesty impossible to train such men for
efficient service.
It is more impossible to maintain discipline
among composed Officers are tempt
ed to make it as easy possible for them with
the hope of keeping many as possible for the
ship, men are more rebelious when they know
they are aboard for brief time only, and it is
next to impossible to control such a situation by
law.
majority of Atlantic vessels are under the
control of English concerns and therefore amen
able to English laws. The Liberal party, which
depends for the bulk of it's support on the labor
ing class has compromised often with various
organizations for the sake Of votes that there
is hardly vestige of power left to marine au-
thorities whereby discipline can be enforced.
"In the merchant SERVICE" authority has
recently said, I'VE have no penalties as in the
navy. What discipline is maintained is forced
out of an unwilling crew by sheer strength OF
character, not by fear. Such methods are quite
typical of the Liberal government, which has
reduced the penalties of disobedience to mere
farce, in order to placate trade unions and tc
gain the support of the Labor members of Par
Lament. Vote-snatching at the expense of the
public's life is what it amounts to-
When, therefore, an accident occurs officers
are almost helpless. They have at hand a crew
ignorant of ship devices, unused to concerted &C
ton and helpless with the appa atus furnished
for such emergencies. 1t is wonder that disas
ters are not more frequent and the loss of life
is as little as it is
Sea-going man has matched himself with
storm and ocean and fairly mastered them; il
remains for him to master himself.