The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-12-18
N. E. .MEN'S.L|EAGUE | !.
~ nj II &C.
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FAVOR sEA|ME|:|l|'sLAN.
Duluth's Largest Church Club
On Record Against Repeal of
La Toilette Act.
W e. MT; H'ss &c. at;:;,., Co.: s..
FOR HUMAN LIDa--
Advocates a Government Owned
Merchant Marine and Opposes
Ship Subsidy.

Americas merchant marine can be
efficiently built up only by the en-
nstment of skilled seamen under
provisions of the La Toilette act,
Post laster w. E. McEwen told men,
bers of the Mems league at their BAN
quet at the church Sunday evening.
He attributed the loss of lives on the
Lusitania to inefficient seamanship
and said freedom and safety of pas
sengers at sea should take preference
over private profits.
Resolutions were adopted at the
meeting indorsing the La Toilette bill
and urging every possible measure to
effect freedom Of the sailors at sea
and safety of traffic under abnormal
conditions.
"Some of the things enacted on
our high seas need improvement"
said Rev. John w. Hoffman, pastor
of the First Methodist church, who
appealed for support of the seamans 8
bill, while the resolution was under
discussion.
Opposed to Ship Subsidy.
w. E. McEWen spoke at consider
able length and he was given good
attention throughout. When he con-
cluded he was given warm applause.
The members of the club rose to
their feet when voting against the
repeal Of tho seamen's, act! The
speaker discussed the American ma
rine situation from various angles
He opposed ship subsidy, declaring
that it was too late to get relief from
that source. He vigorously advo-
Gated a government-owned merchant
marine, the ships to run particularly
to foreign points not now taken care
of by privately owned vessels.
Mr.. McEwen warmly defended the
Seamen's act and clearly exposed the
character of the oppt sition to the
measure. On one side was profit
hunger; on the other human freedom
Among other things he said: y -.
/ Favored by Many Presidents .;r
tAn. 81 the presidents pressid srftE since nee Grant
La ~liAye repeatedly Recommended to con
gress the enactment of laws that
would have for their purpose the re-
establishment of our merchant ma
rlne, and the restoration of the
American flag on the high seas
Grant, Arthur, Harrison and McKin-
ley suggested government appropria-
tions to assist private capital. in build-
ing and operating ships engaged in
foreign trade. The others called at
tention to the depiOrable condition Of
our shipping interests and if they be-
ieved in ship subsidies, they care
fully avoided recommending to con-
gress the passage of a ship subsidy
law.
During all these years the opin-
ions of congressman as to the proper
method to follow have so widely diff
tered that it has proved impossible
to secure the adoption of any par
tlcuIar scheme In spite of the fact
that the United States is exporting
goods valued at from $4,000, 900, 900
to s3,0oo,ooo,ooo a year, private capi-
tai has seen little in the foreign
transportation business to induce If
to build ships and man them with
American sailors.
Two Obstacles.
Two mighty obstacles, the Shin
ping interests declare, stand in the
way. The first is the high cost of
building ships in America as COM
pared with other countries. The Sec
ond is the wide difference paid in
wages between American sailors and
those from Europe and Asia. Amer
lean seamen cost 20 per cent more
than European and in some instances
200 per cent more than Asiatic sail
ors. These two factors, it is claimed,
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