The Washington herald., 1918-06-26
154PLANTS ARE.
ship BUILDING.
Holland Gives DR.. Eaton
Credit for Great Speak
ing Tour.

are IN operation In the united
states. They fringe the Atlantic
coast from Bangor. Me. to Jackson
Vile. Fla They front the Gulf. and
the Pacific Coast. in fact along our
entire Pacific Coast line excepting
that which skirts Alaska.
Every one Of these hip-building
plants has been visited recently by
the Rev. DIR. Eaton, and in all OF
them he made addresses to the ship
builders. Many thousands heard him
speak. and the Washington authori-
tieis are persuaded that 1t Is in part
due to the inspiration and stimulous
created by DR.. Eaton's addresses
that II Is now possible to report
that the United States has become
the greatest ship-building nation in
the world. both from the point or
view OF quantity and from that OF
celerity and efficiency OF construc-
ton
DR.. Eaton was formerly pastor of
the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church
at Cleveland Later he was called
TO the Madison Avenue Baptist
Church of New York City. He had
already gained high reputation for
religious zeal and for unusual ca
pacity for persuasive pulpit utter
ance when he was asked to address
a meeting in New York City which
was held for the purpose of stim-
ulating war enterprise and war en-
ergy. The address he then deliv-
cred commanded instant attention.
1t was eloquent in the highest de-
gree without being rhetorical. 1t re-
NeaIed a thorough understanding Of
the situation
To Serve Government.
Therefore the administration of
President Wilson asked him il he
would enter into the service of the
government. and the Madison Ave-
nue. Church voted to give him a va
cation or leave of absence until
there is no longer need by the gov
crnment for his services. There
upon he began his speaking cam
paign. which is sure to pass into
tradition as one of the most impor-
tant and interesting of the incidents
associated with our preparation for
war
DIR. Eaton returned to New York
a few days ago and this morning
said that on the average the 10000
ship-builders and industrial wage
earners who are employed in manu-
featuring boilers and machinery
with which to equip these ships are
being addressed every day at the
noon hour. Meetings OF this kind
will be continued until there is no
longer need OF them. 1t is an in
spring sight DR.. Eaton says. to
witness the enthusiasm which these
workmen reveal as they listen to the
addresses. and their eager face and
readily uplifted hands bear witness
to the spirit which animates all of
these wOrkmen. who. until the
United States entered into the war
with Germany were. with compare
lively few exceptions. engaged IN
other yocations than that of ship
building.
A Centenary Anniversary.
some Of the ship builders have
spoken with sentimental interest of
the historic fact that 100 years ago.
to be accurate. on June 20. 1919. an
American vessel equipped with
steam engines and paddle wheels.
but also equipped as a sailing ves-
sci. crossed the Atlantic thus DEM
onstrating as a few years earlier
Robert Fulton had demonstrated.
that 1t was possible and CONNER
cially practicable to propel a vessel
by steam power.
Now il is thought appropriate 10
celebrate that anniversary. at least
by Official announcement. that today
there are nearly 100000 men and
some women occupied in building
and equipping ships. And the eN-
igencies Of the war have demon
strated in an astonishing manner
that the United states is capable OF
building and equipping as large a
merchant marine as American trade
after the war may call for. in that
way regaininE prestige which at
ono time the United States pos
sesSed by reason of the capacity and
the size of its merchant marine.
Marine Declined.
1t has always been somewhat of a
mystery why our merchant marine
declined as rapidly as it did. Some
OF the authorities are of the opinion
that It was due to the Confederate
privateers which in the days Of civil
war destroyed many ships that
fIoated the flag of the Union.
others are convinced that IL was
the invention Of Ericsson. whereby
the crew propeller was adapted to
marine engines and also to the ac-
ton Of Great Britain in abandoning
to q great extent wooden ships and
in place OF them building iron ves-
SCIs, which caused the decline in the
American merchant marine.
Some have attributed this decline
to federal legislation. Whatever
the cause. as recently as 1910 Amer
lean ships Of only $4,000 tonnage
were engaged in foreign trade. but
we commanded our eoastwise trade.
Federal law preventing foreign
competition
No one could have dreamed In the
dayswhen the German armies were
rushing through Belgium towards
Paris. and Great Britain was in des-
peration attempting to raise an
army and to secure adequate NUM-
tions. that in less than four years
the United States would take su-
preme place as a ship-building ma
ton. Almost all of this has been
accomplished within the past twelve
months. Much more remains to be
accomplished. But there Is no doubt
that with the amazing energy and
enthusiasm with which American
workmen are inspired to build ships
we shall have by the end of this
wear more than twice as many ships.
in tonnage. as the aggregate amount
of all the ships. in tonnage. that
have been sunk by the submarines
since their sea piracy began.
HOLLoND.
WASHINGTON PRODUCE.
II &