The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-31
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
Let Mr.. Secretary McAdoO Consider
This American Citizens Statement.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: Tho
president Of the international Scamen's
Union has arrived In New York city.
preceded by Redheld. Wilson. McAdoo.
all shouting In favor OF the La Toilette
ship bill: a bill hat has driven the
American flag of the Pacific run. These
men act AZ IL the people In Now York
and vicinity knew nothing about ship
ping matters.
Perhaps We are not as Ignorant as
they think. Last summer / stood on
the deck OF the China Of the Pacific
Mali Line just before she backed out
into the bay at San Francisco on her
last trip to the China Seas under the
house flag OF the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company. The entire feet was for
sale, and II not sold then. commencing
with the China on her return. they were
TO be laid up In ordinary.
1t came to me suddenly that I was
seeing the end Of my flag on the Pacific.
I could almost have cried. because I lave
loved to see my nag afoat. Then l
said to myself: ! will do my part to
drive from public life the creatures who
are responsible for tho disappearance
Of Old Glory.
I have talked as I am writing clean
across the continent. When passing
through prosperous looking Wisconsin I
told tho people there that they ought to
keep La Toilette at home. for. I said. he
has driven the flag from the Pacific.
And he has raised the price OF Japanese
shipping stock TO It's highest figures. and
a Japanese. writing about the La Fol-
lette bill. used these words: at Is in
conceivable to an Asiatic mind II
ought to DO inconceivable to any mind.
Our Gamer on the coast can now sit
on the bulkhead and twiddle their
thumbs.
How easily We are humbugged in
shipping matters! Some years ago l
listened to n Scotrhman on a Cunard
line steamer who was holding up the
American people as a lot OF fools be-
cause ~ Congress had passed n bill
to subs'dize the American Line between
New York and Great Britain. When
my patience was at an end I retorted
ut seems to me that you are not well
Informed In this matter of subsidies. If
you were we'll informed you would know
that the Cunard Line steamer in whose
smoking room we are now seated Is at
this present time engaged in earning
a subsidy from the British Government
II you were we'll Informed you would
know that the German Government
grants subsidies 10 a number, n not all.
OF it's ocean liners. II you were we'll
Informed YOU would know that the
frencn Government gives n very large
subsidy to the French Lime between New
York and Havre, On the Pacific the
Japanese line running to San Francisco
Is well cared for by the Japanese Gov
eminent, over a million being the sub
sidy. II we'll Informed YOU would know
that the English line between Vancouver
and Japan and china receives a subsidy
from Canada and England. How then
can we have ships under the American
flag unless we subsidize them? Wouli
you buy stock in an unsubsidized line
that was going TO run In competition
with the steamer We are crossing In?
You know you would not. We Ameri-
cans want steamers In time OF peace
hut We need them much moro In time
OF war"
There was no moro anti-subsldy talk
from Scotland on that trip.
Had we applied the subsidy remedy
to many lines II would have been far
better for us In this war. Our railroads
and docks would not be filled with goods
waiting for ships to take them To the
buyers who need the articles so badly.
No Government owned or run shins
will care for this industry as q should
be cared for.
To our law makers At Washington
say, no not let interested persons foo
you again. Put Old Glory back ON the
Pacific and the other seas by subsidiz.
ing steamers. as other nations do
When they change their plans we
can do so also. : "
EAST ORANGE, y. J.. December 40