Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-19
SCHWAB PUT SERVICE
TO COUNTRY FIRST
Gave Up Projected Trip to
Front at Call Upon His
Patriotism
RAPID PACE IN TASK
Great Steel Man and Shipbuilder on
Job Thirty Minutes After
Arrival in Washington
Washington. April 10.

Washington, April 10.
Charles NJ. SChwab. Americas great.
est steel man and shipbuilder. gave
up a trip that would have carried him
into the fighting ranks of our BOYS in
France to direct the building Of the
greatest mercantile marine service
ever dreamed Of in this country. To.
day he told of his proposed voyage tn
Europe which was to be made within
a few weeks.
II wanted to go to the front again
as | did two years ago" said Mr.
Schwab. Last week I made up my
mind to broach the subject to Mrs.
Schwab and invited several friends to
dinner the night ! had determined to
talk 1t over with her.
"Sho was engaged in some general
conversation when the matter of my
trip was sprung upon her There was
not trace Of feeling on her face as
she listened to me explain that I had
a strong desire to view the fighting
at close range again. Then suddenly
she turned on me.
"'Why not view the fighting herc'?"
she asked.
THAT was few days before Mr.
Hurley conferred with me about ships.
Now | propose to take orders from
him. I took this ioh because he
wanted me to do it, and il ! can he Of
any assistance to him. if my efforts
can help I'm this tremendous ask, I
shall he happy that he asked me.
After all, | am shipbuilder. | must
be in the field. If I am to accomplish
anything it will be from that end"
Mr.. Schwab reached Washington
Yesterday afternoon and within half
an hour had taken hold of his new
duties. the essence of which, as he
himself expressed it, is "to build
ships"
Events moved swiftly after Mr..
SChwab'S arrival At the conclusion
of a two-hour conference. which the
steel magnate had with Chairman +.
y. Hurley. of the United States ship.
ping board. and Charles A. Piez. vice
president of the Emergency Fleet Cor.
poratiOn. the announcement was made
that today statement would he
given out telling in detail in what
direction Mr.. Schwabs energies would
be directed.
The big task that confronts the for.
mer directing genius of the Bethlehem
Steel Corporation, it was made plain.
will be the production end Of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. lie will
have fun power to carry out in what.
ever way he sees best the plans and
policies of the shipping board. In
order to carry on his work. Mr.. Schwah
will start very shortly on q tour of
many of the big shipyards. especially
in the East to see how they are carry
ing out the task Of filling the nation s
crying need for shipping.
This will be done in order that Mr..
SChwab may impress upon them what
he regards as the biggest single factor
Of the task. that the yards must as
sumo the responsibility for production.
In an interview Mr.. Schwab stressed
the point that he had entered heart
and soul into the task which con
frOnted him.
at a time like this. and I am not
attempting TO say this in spirit of
cheap patriotism. it Is the duty Of
every man that can in any way eN'
tend help to the Government to do 50,
he declared. II have come here ready
to do whatever I can to be of help,
and | feel sure that with the able men
associated with the organization al
ready that we can put over the job.
MY main impression OF the con
structiOn end of the work, as ! have
been able to gather it so far is that
the responsibility must resi- with the
men that are building the ships. The
Government is furnishing them WITH
the material and the money, and they
must get the completed vessels into
the water.
"NIy work will take NE into the
field where I can be of assistance. 1t
has always been my practice to get the
spirit of achievement instiled among
the men themselves. for II we do not
do this it will be impossible for us TO
expect maximum efficiency That will
be one of my endeavOrs, bu: it must be
definitely understood tina, | am not
going to mix in the original decisions
or policies of the shipping board. !
am here to see that the program When
ordered is fulfilled"