Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-10
McAdoo Tells Chicago Bus
mess Men Why 1t Is
Needed.
NO PARTY QUESTION
Must Have Merchant Ma
line to Build up Our
Commerce.

CHICAGO Jan. S,--SeVlelalJ 'hN
Adoo declared tonight In a speech
TO the Commercial Club Of Chicago
that the administration ship purchase
bill now pending in congress offers
the only solution of the problem oI
how to build up an adequate Amer
lean merchant marine. IL prolnlsS9'
he said to overcome many Oh tne
obstacles the European War mas
thrust in the path of American lraue
eXpansion and to help prosperity
The erection of an American mer-
cbani marine, he argued, Is not
partfsan question but a policy whlch
has received the Endorsement OF (he
Denocratic and Republican parties
for tbtrty-five years. Failure OF the
Republican party to legislate TO that
end i'm twenty years OF power, he
said. showed 1t the more culpaple.
"The Democratic party he added,
.,nor, has the power to legislate, and
II will he equally culpable If 1t rams
10 act. It will be even more culpaple
If if does nothing, since the emer-
gency created by the European war
has emphasized, as nothing else coulu
have done, the supreme FOLLY OF SUP
iecting the foreign commerce OF TINS
great nation to the hazards or ocean
TRANSFORMATION under the rags OF hd-
tions now engaged in the most glSah
tic war of all time. Regardless OF
these hazards ii is even greater IoIly
from an economic point OF view 10
continue deliberately the policy OF
irving to build up great 1orelsh
trade by leaving to our rivals the
control of the vitally important m
strrmentalities of ocean trahsporta-
ton So long as our competitors own
the ships they make the rates they
control the service and they deter
miue the routes. win TINS power ~
is easy to favor their own commerce
and discriminate against ours
Needless Jeopardy.
$50 long as England commands the
sea, our commerce will not be stop
ped But who can foreteH the even
tualitics OF a great war? 1t IS con-
Ceivable that a daring German squad,
ron might get into the Atlantic ana
nlay havoc with our commerce In
British bottoms No one can tell now
long the war will last and every DAY
that it continues our foreign trade
is subject to its viciSsitudes ana uah-
gers. Is It fair to our producers our
merchants and our manufacturers TO
force such risks upon them are
we justified in putting the prosperity
Of our country in needless jeopardy
The secretary pointed out that the
withdrawal of l8 per cent or the
worlds total steam tonnage-wnlch
before the war amounted to 5,4OO,-
600 tons-had operated to increase
ocean freight rates in unprecedented
fashion The lack Of American DOT
toms and the fact that neutral ships
cannot be depended upon mas prac-
ticalIv destroyed the trade or the
ttrit of the BEL
ligercut nations in non-contraDand
articles Mr. McAdoo referred to the
Increase in rates and said that on
ali commodities 1t has amounted 10
between fifty and three hundred per
cent whether cargoes were for Eng
ush European or Mediterranean
2orts -
"These enormous increases" he
said, constitute a heavy tax on phe
American producer They are re
Elected in the lessened prices whicli
he has been compelled to take Tor
his product The increased cost. OF
carving American produce and com
1nodties to European ports since the
war broke out runs into millions
This great sum represents heavy
foil that has been eXacted by foreign
steamship owners from American
shippers and producers. 1t is, IN eI
feet. a penalty they are paying foI
the failure of American polltlclahs u
carry out their repeated promises to
the American people. Foreign owners
may increase their rates over nlght
arbitrarily-we have no power to pre-
vent it-and we must pay the price
or stop our shipments. Already oui
commerce Is being Injured ana oul
prosperity Is being retarded by th'
Relentless hand Of tribute whlcn ne'
heavily upon 1t and which Will ll'
more heavily upon II with each uaA
thai passes. because ocean treigh
rate are still rising"
Opportunity to grasp lars'
amount OF trade is knocking at tn
door of the nation. the secretary de
clared. but business men must have
assurance of ocean transportauol
under the American flag equal II
nuauty, reliability and regularity VIII
European competitors.
"American trade in foreign mar
bots" he said will follow transpor
tatiou under the American flag ant
thrive as It never did before. Tn
markets of the world are before US
The Orient as well as South America
Tnterprise and courage are nee6ed Z
secure them"
ship Subsidy Failed.
MIR. McAdoo urged that efforts I
buiId up a merchant marine throug
ghip subsidy had failed. that change
in the navigation laws with reduce
wages 10 American seamen would nc
be tolerated and that the policy Q
discriminating tariff duties favorin
imports in American ships had pee
nroved unworkable Guarantees
principal and interest of bonds issue
bv private corporations engaged
shipping. he said. was not worthy
serious consideration. The alterna
five left to those who wish to see tn
American flag flying in every poi
wa i'm the bill now in congress wit
It's private corporation of which Tn
government shall own five per cent
the stock.
The main objection to that plai
ne pointed out, has been that II pu
the government In the shipping bus