Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-05
NO TIME FOR MOssBACKs
AND 0BSTRUCT|0N|sTS
Moment Has Como for South and
Country Generally to Awake to
Commercial Opportunities.
MERCHANT MARINE FIRST STEP
Secretary McAdoo Tells Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce That Ships
We Must Have If United States Is
to Take RightfuI Place in Trade.

GREENSBORO. y. c.. August -
Secretary McAdoo in letter given out
tonight at the banquet OF the Green's
boro Chamber of Commerce. in his alb
sence. declared that II American cotton
manufacturers were prepared now to
turn out the kind OF cotton goods the
people OF Central and South America
want. I'VE could undoubtedly take and
keep the vast amour. OF trade in cotton
goods our foreign competitors have
been obliged to abandon"
The secretary urged the Importance
Of a shipping bill similar to the ono
which failed OF passage at the last
session Of Congress.
INDISPENSABLE STEP
IS MERCHANT MARINE
III you want South American trade;
II you want world trade" the letter
read. "the indispensa bic step is an
American merchant marine to carry
our commerce to the ends OF the earth
under the protection OF the Stars and
Stripes"
Mr.. McAdoo said n leading Southern
cotton manufacturer told him that IL
he risked his capital in producing the
kind OF goods the South American
market required and in introducing
them. he would find himself driven out
Of that market after the war, because
foreign ship owners could increase
freight rates overnight to discriminate
against American trade. This manu-
facturer declared. said the secretary,
that If reliable steamship service were
established. under tho American flag
and backed by the United States gov
| eminent, Southern manufacturers
would increase their plants manufac-
ture the goods required. and go after
the South American trade.
This is. undoubtedly, a reasonable
and sound position for the cotton
. manufacturer to take" the letter con-
tinued He cannot be expected to
make perilous investment, nor can
he command the necessary capital to
enlarge his business for Routh Ameri-
can trade unless he can have assur-
ance Of reliable ocean transportation at
! reasonable rates.
SHIPS ARE DEMANDED
FOR EUROPEAN COMMERCE.
! Mr.. McAdoo said ships under the
!
! demanded for the protection of our
/ European commerce. IT firmly be-
lieve," he wrote. that. If we had an
ample supply of American ships Ia
carry our cotton to Europe at the rates
| of freight which prevailed prior to the
! European war it would mean an in
! crease of to cents per pound over
| what II VIII be possible to get for raw
cotton under present conditions"
| Let the South awake to her oppor.
F; tunity.' said the letter, in conclusion
Let her and the rest of the country
demand that the commerce of our coun-
try and the safety OF our country be
| quickly assured by the creation Of an
| American merchant marine. backed by
government administered in the in
! terest OF all of the people and against
all interests OF the subsIdists, the
| mossbacks and the obstructionists
This is time for action Already we
| have had too much talk. To prove
the latter assertion. have only to
refer you to the speeches OF the Re-
! publican flibusters in the last session
of the United States Senate"