Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-16
! NO WRONGDOER SHALL
]. ESCAPE" SAYS BENSON
Shipping Board Chairman Issues
Ringing Reply to Critics
y OF Corporation.
INSISTS ON CLOSEST WATCH
Easy Matter to Pick Flaws in
SIS Such Organization" Admiral
Says-Aicn Employed ms Check
against Graft
IRy Associated rrcss.J

CHARLESTON. s. c., Nov i5.-Re.
plyins TO critics OF the Shipping
Eoard and Emergency Fleet Corpor-
=. Stion, Rear Admiral William S. Ben
son, Chairman Of the board. declared
in an address hero tonight before
the South Atlantic Ports Association
--;hat his 'rcliow-countrymcn" could
depend upon II that no wronpdoer
connected with the board will escape
Il the wronsdoing is called 10 my
attention"
Not only have I insisted upon the
closest watch upon all matters" said
chairman Benson, but ] have follow
ca the work OF tha Shipping Board
. IN every port OF the world. with the
one thought in mind that VIC arc
now reaching that crucial momen,
which SPELLS either the success or
failure OF a permanent merchant ma
ilnn.
There is no effort on our part to
shi7k whatever responsibility we have
assumed. We have insisted that AT
all times thc records arc opcn to the
i'ublic. Every facility IS offered TO
those who desire Information.
1t is an easy matter for any ono
20 pick flaws in an organization like
he Shipping Board. We had to train
100000 shipbuildcrs. and in The man
ming of our ships wc have had 10
train thousands Of men
Employ Men ~ Checkers.
or course, in an organization OF
this magnitude, YOU will find hero
ana there evidences OF wrongdoinE
and now and then you will uncovc.
systematic effort TO dcfraud II
was necessary for the Shipping Board
TO employ men whose sole rcspon-
Sibiiity was the uncovcring OF wrong
doing. and these men were charged
with heavy responsibilities The
men who we depend upon to be checks
upon those who might be tempted
10 do wrong bear heavy rcspons,-
etlfty II they failed us: but in m
organization spending over $1,000
100000, where. as the largest steam
ship operator in the world, millions
or dollars arc expended from day 10
day. IT would be impossible to pro-
vent all wrongdoing or TO do bust
ness without suffering financial losses
from time TO time"
Men OF vision will take into CON
alteration TIC Whole picture presented
"; shipping problems, Chairman Rcn-
son asserted. recalling the work done
by tho American merchant marine
during the war and praising the Wis
on Of Edward y. Hurley, who, az
lpa irman OF the board after tho arm
sGcc, went ahead with the ship
aiding program.
MY predecessor. John Barton
aEnc' HAD heavy responsibility
p'hced upon him when he stepped In
t" the office made vacant through
nr1A u.s.
Henson continued. Thousands of
"ia'n's. amounting to millions OF dol
lars. the Jobs OF more than 100000
men involved in the settlement OF
these claims problems of rcconstruc-
ton. are only 4 few of the many
pressing matters that came before
him in 4 days work"
Responsibility with People.
Responsibility for tho establish
inent of permanent merchant ma
rine rests with the American peo-
Ile as well rs with the board. Chair
men Benson declared adding that
II is the responsibility oC every
newspaper publisher iii America, and
nave time and again called upon
'iIe press. and it,, has met me in n
iioble manner. 70 .ange.,d this mes
sage hefore the world.-that America
s now ship independent"
Declaring that he was charged, as
chairman Of the board, with great re-
sponsibility. Chairman benson said
nc would be cowardly II he refused to
exercise TO the best OF his judgment
the powers vested In him
IF mistakes have been made" he
said. they were mistakes thai nat
nrally may be expected in such
stupendous enterprise Involving MS
II does the active employment, @.
more than 1000 going vessels
with the manifold problems involved
IN snip operation. the completion Of
huge shipbuildng program en-
Tracing the payment of millions OF
dollars and the settlement of thou
sands OF claims which come AS a
result OF an effort 10 be fair 10 those
men who, when We needed them
placed their facilities at our dis
posal and endeavored to do every
thing within their power to holm
this country IN its shipbu!!d!nS pro.
gram.
I'VE are engaged In no ch!ld's play
our effort is world wide. Our work
reaches into every part OF the world.
IL affects every Interest; !, IS your
business TO watch this development.
and to critically examine our WORK
from day to day. II i. your business
10 question what VIC do u is a
good thing that men are awakened
10 the splendid opportunity shipping
anDfds. but while il is no ch!ld's
play to build up this world wide
organization. ] do say 81 IS child',s
play on the part OF ANY ono who
heedIessly spreads erroneous I'm
pressions which tend to destroy con
idence in our ability TO maintain.
support and develop "a permanent
merchant marine, privately owned.
All we ask is constructive criticism"
South Plays Zig Part,
The South is playing al !nportan,
part in the development o: the MGR.
chant marine. Chairman Benson told
The association.
You men OF the South have =
peculiar responsibility" no declared
Announcing az / did In the port OF
New York that We would sprcad
shipping throughout the country. T..
was with the hope and belief shat
when the task was presented 20 the
men OF the South and the Cult. shat
they would meet the issue. and be-
iieyc results show that We h,v. ,,o,,,.