The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-14
CLEAR EXPOSITION OF NECESSITY
FOR PASSAGE OF SHIP MEASURE
Democratic platforms in 1919, ana

Democratic platforms IN lSlz, ana
then said:
These unequivocal declarations
show conclusIvely that the creation Of
an American merchant marine liz not
a. partisan question, but a vital
policy of national importance upon
which all parties have long been In
agreement. Like the cur rency Ques-
ton, 1t has been talked about. inter-
mnably; but, unlike the currency
question, 1t remains to be solved.
While both of the leading political
parties are culpable for the plight in
which our foreign trade now finds
itself, because of their failure to Gre
ate, as promised, and American mer-
chant marine. the Republican party Is
thu more cuIpable because 1t has had
complete power to legislate during a
large part OF the last twenty years
when 1t controlled the executive and
legislative branches Of the Govern
ment. and yet did nothing. The Dem.
ocratic party now has power to leg
islate, and IL. will be equally culpa'
BILE IL 1t fails to act. 1t will be even
more oulpable IL It does nothing. since
the emergency created by the Euro
pean war has emphasized, as nothing
else could have done, the supreme
folly of subjecting the foreign com
MERGE Of this great nation to the haz-
ards Of ocean transportation under the
flags of nations now engaged in the
most gigantic war of all time"
The treasury secretary next quoted
interesting and vitality important sta
tistics. He pointed out that at the
outbreak OF the European war last
August. the gross steam tonnage o!
all the nations of the world was, III
round numbers 45,40o,eo0 tons; thai
one half Is under the British flag
and that the United States has now
| but fifteen vessels of 1000 net tons
and over. regularly engaged in trans
Atlantic or trans-Pacific trade. He
| then added:
| Shows Need of More Ships.
| "Our total gross steam tonnage
| registered COR the foreign trade. in
Guiding everything under and ovei
/ 900 tons. and including all steam
vessels admitted To American registr,
/ since the war broke out. is only l..
! 061,s16 tons, or little more than
per cent of the worlds gross tonnage.
! Other important facts cited wer'
| these: Since the outbreak Of chs
! war 5,S03,014 gross tons OF ocean
going vessels have been withdraw
/ from commercial use. Prior to th'
war large part of the American
| foreign trade was carried in German
ships, but now we are almost WHEEL,
/ dependent upon the English nag
| American ocean commerce for tn
year ending June 80 last reached thu
enormous total of s3,7s5. 506.o 900.
| 80 long as' England commands th'
sea.'' said Mr.. McAdoo, Our com
I merce will not be stopped. But wh'
| can foreteIl the reventualities Of 4
great war? 1t Ii conceivable that 1
/ daring German squadron might sc
/ into the Atlantic and play havoc witt
I our commerce in British bottoms. NJ
! one can tell how long the war viii
, last, and every day that II continue
( our foreign trade Is subject to III
yiclssitudes and dangers. Is 1t fail
/ to our producers. our merchants, ana
| our manufacturers to force such risk
upon them Are we justified In put
| ting the prosperity Of our countr,
/ in needless jeopardy? Aside from
this our trade with some of the bel
iigerent countries Is practically de
struyed for lack OF American ship
to carry non-contra band articles t.
them and To bring back non-contra
band ARTICLES to us--articles sorei,