The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-13
Judge Sidney Story Lays
 Bare Business Reasons
 For Birninghan,' s Future
Manager of National Service Section of Shipping Board Greatly Impressed With Birmingham and the Won
 derful Possibilities to Follow End of War

development of ocean transportation under the American flag, than even those of our people who inhabit the regions bordering on the seas
 'I am now doing my all to help in an humble capacity to speed up pro- auction in shipyards and factories, to lick the Hun so that peace can again emerge from her crimson grave to i'm = mortality--yet do I shout also with all my might, Take heed! Take heedl the nations of the world are even now pre- pairing for the gigantic commercial struggle that will follow military peace Let us also be up and doing by putting our house In order and pre- pairing for the struggle if we wish to escape from many direfui results that must necessarily follow, if in our un- sophisticated and trusting nature. we sit idly by and wait for after the war to begin the work of industrial. com mercial and political reconstruction. England and France, Italy and even Germany, with the gigantic war on their hands. are working night and day to go after trade once peace is re- stored to this suffering earth.
 For 10 years or more have preached this gospel of the restoration of the American merchant marine.
 MARINE LEAGUES WORK
 T am a member of the National Ma : rine League of the United States of America. This association. or league, has been laboring gratutiously and with fervent patriotism for years to edu- cate America to the all-importanr and imperative necessity of developing our cross seas service under our own flag, and thereby emancipating American commerce from the yoke of foreign commercial bondage.
 Patriots like F. H. W. Ross, presi- dent of the National Marine league, and Col August Belmont, chairman of the trustee committee, have been shout ing like pr. Charles A. Eaton of the national service section of the United States shipping board for ships! Ships. to win the war, and also to win and hold trade after the war.
 The gospel of the National Marine league is:
 Marry the voting strength of the Union to the wisdom and intelligence of it's thoughtful and enterprising busi- ness leaders;
 "Popularize the economic truth that the laborers steady job depends upon continuity of run of mill;
 (Which in turn depends upon con- tinuous and steady sale of the products of that mill;
 which in turn hangs, upon foreign trade;
 (Which in turn depends upon an ade- ouate American merchant marine;
 Which in turn requires sensible leg islation;
 Which in turn lies on the knees of the gods who in this case. are the voters of America.
 "Birmingham and in fact most of Americas, greatness and glory lie be- yond the seas. We must furnish em- ployment for the millions in our land This is only possible by the in- crease of production from farms, fac tories and mines; and therefore for eign customers or foreign trade ex- mansion are an imperative necessity, and the very foundation of it all is ocean transportation, under our flag and under American control.
 Leave it not to Uncle Sam. He is not in that business. He will help guide and protect our commercial flag and interests if we so desire.
 I've must take the initiative and de- velop transportation lines from our ports to the worlds strategic marts.
 "The opportunity is ours. Will we profit by past experienced"