Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-28

lies. Your strategically favorable To-
cation, your water front and water
ways, your fine commercial traditions
place you in a position here to rem
der important service to your coun-
try and to acquire signal advantage
for yourselves, and to add to Amerl-
can eminence.
No nation in all time ever came into
gneat influence in the world except
ing as it grew to eminence in the
commerce between peoples. The fas-
chatting story of world civilization
is marked in every chapter by Tic
stamp of maritime development.
There was time when we OUT
sailed the world. I delight in the TO
nance of the clippers OF .ht. ea-ican
ters of a century ago. when AHeI!oan
sailors were as daring and triuH-
phant in peace as John Paul Jones
was in war.
A Distinction Lost.
But we did not cling to our Amer'-
can distinction. We did not folio"
our Invention of the steamship with
la continued development and MAN.
|tenance of steamship lines. We ceased
ito be carriers of our own trade, anu
we encouraged our rivals by our own
neglect. We neglected our Navy uhtii
that great democrat. Grover Clere
land, gave us an awakening IN nis
reverence for the Monroe doctrine
which present-day democrat does
not understand. 1 have strong con-
viction that if our country had oeen
as strong with its merchant marine as
it was powerful in naval defense our
voice in behalf of peace would nave
been more quickly needed.
The war gave US the great aWakE
ening. America means to take her
place as a sea carrier. not for our
selves alone, but to serve the worid.
We have the ships; we have the sea
men: we have the cargoes: we mean
to unfurl "Old Glory" on the peaceful
paths of the seas.
The day and the hour have arrived
for operation and the maintenance OF
a great American merchant marine.
We have the initial legislation. ana
need now only effective adminiStra-
tion, backed by American determine
ton. to hold our rightful place as
maritime nation.
Important Legislation.
The merchant marine act of 1920.
prepared under republican leadership
and passed by a republican Congress,
can be fairly described as one of the
most important laws enacted in our
generation. Like every pioneer un-
dertaking. it has defects and short
comings which time will disclose and
experience enable US 10 repair. But
as legislative project, conceived
in the broadcast spirit of national up
building, it stands forth as great
constructive achievement.
The purpose of the measure IS: In
a sentence, "the promotion and main
tenance of a merchant marine of the
best type of modern ships, flying the
American flag, manned by American
seamen. owned by private capital and
national inspiration"
The phenomenal emergence of a
great American merchant marine is
one of the most striking economic
consequences of the world war. In
1914 the total tonnage registered for
foreign trade under the American flag
was 1,066,000 gross tons; today,
thanks to the quick sense of the
American people as to the critical inn
portance of shipping in the world
war and to the invincible genius of
American industry in surmounting
governmental delay and administra-
tive inefficiency. there is ready for
our flag some 12,500,000 gross IONS of
seagoing vessels.
The Importance of our new mer-
chant marine is not alone that 1t
ealvages and puts to use vast and
costly body of war material, nor even
that it adds a great new activity to
the nations business life as we'll as
a wholesome safeguard to the coun-
try's security, but, more significant
still, it provides the mechanism
wherewith we can retain and enlarge
the economic vantage ground in world
commerce and world finance which we
now enjoy.
For Trade Development.
A well equipped merchant marine is
a prime essential of successful COM
merce; it is the best agency of trade
development. Nothing else will supply
the same enterprises in the search for
new markets. nor contribute the same
energy in the opening up of new
trade routes, nor offer the same en-
couragement for the investment
abroad of our surplus capital. Over
seas TRANSPORTATION in American bot