Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-23
REDFIE[DD DEFENDS
Supplying BILL
Addresses National Foreign
Trade Convention in Reply
to James J. Hill.
OBJECTS TO STATEMENTS
BASED ONLY ON SURMISE
Welding Ring. Shipowner. Notes
Scarcity of Steamers Suitable for
Carrying Cargoes.

ST. LOUIS. No. January Ga dis
cussion around the paper read Tor
James j. Hill of ST. Paul developed at
the national foreign trade convention
here yesterday. The views expressed
by MIR. Hill against the shipping bill
drew forth a reply from William C.
I;"dficld. Secretary Of Commerce, IN
defense of the plan OF government
owned steamships.
What does ii mean" he said. TO
speak of the complications almost Ger
tain to drag us sooner or later INTO
the European conflict" 1t has been
advertised all over America that there
ould lie trouble if the government
bought German ships.
Il have here an offer to sell the
government twelve large English ships
:,vaila bic Immediately. Did anybody
raise the question that there would be
International complications if we
bought these English ships" We have
had offers to sell the government
French ships, available Immediately.
HAS any body raised the question of
International compiled tions if we buy
TN" French ships"
England Doesn't Object.
Il gave to merchant in Louisville
,rsterday a letter from the English
ambassador saying there was no objec-
ti"n to his purchasing a German ship
20 be used in the South American
trade. Why have we here in America
so much the habit of criticising first
and getting the facts next? Why has
not somebody asked of me a single
question as to the truth in these mat
tors before body after body has pub
n i,h aya nf
dreams"
The papers concerning other shipping
topics read at the convention MIR. Red
iield branded as full of statements
based merely on surmiSe.
Private interests ask the admins
tIItion to hold up what we would do.
he declared, but when I ask them what
they would do | get only silence. When
! ask opponents of the shipping bill.
Would you operate Your lines to give
primary interests to American COM
Ilcrce" | get no answer
lie then reminded the convention that
he had said at other places that If prl-
waite individuals succeeded in caring
for American sea commerce the admin
iStration would say. God bless you,
and would keep its hands off.
Views of Welding Ring.
Welding Ring, Il shipper and ship
ncr, also took part in the discussion.
saying he would wholly disregard the
speech he had prepared to deliver to the
convention.
MI Ring said Il venture the assertion,
aud I think I will be supported by every
practical man in the shipping business,
that every available steamer suitable for
t;irryirg C:trGocs is employed TO its ut
most capacity 1T the present time. There
ar" no idle steamers. except those that
~ informed aud cannot he employed.
secretary E'dtield failed to tell us
where H." is going to get steamers to
carry CtrgoeS. III tienoa alone at the last
report there were nfty-four steamers I'M
alb, to get unloading berths to discharge
their cargo.S. From Havrc came 4 cable
gram Send no more steamers to Havre.
We have no means of stffording them space
To discharge their cdrgOeS, and no means
of securing sufficient help to do it The
men have gone to war and We cannot
handle the cargo