Evening star., 1919-04-29

tne1r capital to other uses or get for
eign contracts, some idea of the gen.
eral effect on this region of govern
ment's policies can be derived
Cannot Understand Attitude.
Out here they fail to understand
President Wilson's purpose in for
accepting foreign contracts to build
ships. Norway, Sweden, Denmark
and Holland were anxious to get-
ships built. Undoubtedly some of
these neutral vessels ultimately would
carry German goods, but, on the other
hand, even the request of the French
government for permission to ne
gotiate contracts tor the building of
ships in American yards was denied.
MIR. Wilson's policy would be un-
derstood in the west if it intended
to build more ships itself. or to ar
range for the construction of an
American merchant marine by CO.
operation between the government
and private capital. But not
scintilla of information as to the
future is available. Congress has not
formulated a policy because it is not
in session, and President Wilson has
sent no word from Paris concerning
the acceptance of foreign contracts.
When the armistice was signed there
was plenty of opportunity to get
1OFcISH COHlTdctS NOW, Will tne
fall in the price of tonnage, it is
doubtful whether the yards can COM
pete with builders abroad. America
may compete If tfe speed with which
ships can be made ready FOR use as
well as the ability Of the ship-build-
cheney by eliminating waste and dou-
BILE registration of men and loafing
on the job are factors.
Coast Eager for Decision.
But the whole northwest coast is
anxious for some decision. Maybe
there are too many yards. maybe
some of them will have to go out OF
business because of foreign competi-
ton. Maybe the skilled mechanics
will be absorbed by the automobile
and truck industry and other occupa-
which are begging for mechanics.
But many of these workers have
homes here and are natives of this
region. In fact. most of the workers
are Americans and there has been
relatively little industrial trouble for
that reason. Conservative leaders
have been in charge of the. labor
movement and there is good spirit
Of cooperation and understanding
between capital and labor. The pos
have to be made is generally recog-
nized, but the employers say they
think they will not have to make
very many reductions if they can
only get efficiency out of the men.
So the future of the American mer-
chant marine. which means the fu-
ture of American export trade as
well as the capacity of the United
States to convert her war industries
into factories for the production of
world, all depends upon ships. Ocean
tonnage and the price of freight rates
are the determining factors in the
development of an export trade, and
whether or not the Pacific coast shall
furnish an annual contribution to the
worlds supply of the tonnage and
therefore to the amount Of money
being charged for carrying cargoes
the world over depends upon a de-
cision by the executive branch of the
government and an agreement with
Congress at an early date on the
needed appropriations for the new
ships if work is to be carried for
ward, especially in the construction
of steel ships.
Politically, oregon is very much the
same as it was in 1915, except that the
republican strength has grown. Pres
ident Wilson's foreign policies are the
subject of some criticism, but the peo-
pie by large majority stand with
him. He has popular support, par
ticularly on the Italian question, and
l heard many republicans speak re-
gretfully today of Mr.. Lodges speech
Of opposition to the Presidents stand
on the Italian claims. There is dis
position here to stand by the Presi-
dent in these tangled foreign prob
lens because he is in Paris. where all
the facts are available and where evil
IDENTIFY Premiers Clemenceau and Lloyd
George tactly approve his course.
This state is unquestionably going to
| t-sL al
time to the republican presidential
nominee, but eastern republican lead
ers should not feel overconfidenta about
the temper of Oregon toward the ul-
ira ra-conservative faction of the repub-
lican party. About the most popular
presidential candidate in this section
is Gen. Leonard Wood, who has in
herited the Roosevelt strength here.
Oregon has presidential primary
early in the game. and very likely
Gen. Wood will derive much prestige
from the fact that Oregon will give
him that vote just as it did Hughes,
long before it was known whether the
distinguished jurist would step down
from the bench to accept the nomina-
ton.
Another interesting thing about
Oregon politics is Senator Chamber
| lain's status. He has opposed Mr..
Wilson and the democratic admins
tration sufficiently to win republican
support, and, while there will be
candidate against him, Mr.. Chamber
lain will be opposed only nominally
| by the influential republican news
papers In other words, his re-elec-
| ton seems assured in 1920.
Incidentally, be it known that the
| league Of nations is very popular
| in Oregon. Senator Poindexter Of
Washington tried to arrange a pub
| lie meeting here in opposition to the
| league, but the republican organiza-