New-York tribune., 1919-04-26
Business Men Told Worlds
Markets Will BE Opened
by Merchant Fleet Due
To BE the Largest Ahoat
Urged To BE Prepared
Hurley and Farrell Assure
National Trade Council
of Fair Play Abroad

CHICAGO. April a5. ~ Predictions
thst the American merchant marine Ia
on the threshold Of an era ef ihtssna.
Hohsl supremacy and that big buslheas
enterprises Of America would meet tLa
situation by becoming leading factors
In the worlds trade were made here to-
night by Edward N. Hurley, chairman
OF the United States Shipping Board,
and James A Farrell. president of the
United States Steel Corporation and
chairman of the National Foreign
Trade Council.
The addresses were made at the sixth
annual banquet Of the council. Both
Mr. Hurley and Mr.. Farrell sounded a
call TO American enterprise to pre-
pare for q period Of reconstruction in
international commerce that would find
at its end the permanent establish
ment of this country IN the markets
of Europe, the Far East and South
America.
Mr.. Hurley in his address touched
on the merchant marine question, and
then took up the question of trade re-
lations with foreign countries, urging
that "fair play" be the standard of his
audience.
L. S. Merchant Marine Established
"1he first object of the National
Trade Council" he said, was to en-
courage the development of a great
merchant marine. An American 1ner-
chant marine is now an accomplished
fact
"The second object of the organiza-
ton was to urge American manufact-
urers to seek foreign markets. AS q
general objective, the council had in
mind the need for sound governmental
policies toward foreign trade. 1t is in
no small measure due to the council
that the whole country has been awak-
ened to the Importance of foreign trade
and to the part it plays in American
prosperity.
"Ships are the controlling factor in
the development of foreign trade. 1t
is our hope, if our programme is com
pleted, to have sufficient ships to move
30 per cent Of our total commCrce in
American bottoms"
Mr.. Hurley said that the feeling
among some business men that their
competitors at homo and abroad wefo
not playing the game fairly was largely
imaginary
Against Legal Restrictions
The speaker warned the members Of
The council against relying upon The
government TO overcome obstacles that
cen he removed of overcome by ord
nary business skill and honest meth
odn iesa restriction on business
he deeafed unfair aud brake on
Che growth Of nHoh uniefpiiRnH.
In protestlne hfhihsi the "watored
etoct' policy Of some business orpani
zhtions, Nh llurley remarked that
such procedure would be impossiblo ina
the operation of the new merchant
marine. lie added that those who ad
yoeate operating on II plan not hascd
upon official Information in regard to
cost Of operation snd construction
'are apt TO make costly mistakes"
Mr.. Farrell, after recounting tho
during the first fifty years Of tho last
century. and telling how builders Of
This country had provided tonnage for
the shippers Of other nations. dis
eussed The decline due to the dis
eoyefy' that ships could be mada Of
iron
steel hesolutionized Shipping
''ln the judgment OF competent
British authortias,' he said, III was
only the evolution Of the iron ship
that saved their shipping industry
from extinction In the 'b0s We
could build cheaper ihan the British
because Of the still available supplies
Of live oak and other seasoned timber
handy to the shipyards of our eastern
coast line; in the SOS the advantage
shifted to the other side With the
appearance OF the iron screw steam
ship the maritime supremacy which