The Washington herald., 1920-02-22

ehc oitdt Ldhcb lTuSt 10, OF Snt-
cago. That a man resident so far
from the ports Immediately involved
should find interest in this undertake
ing indicates how great an extent Of
the country may be served through
these new trade outlets. The direc-
tors Of this organization with the
somewhat involved title act practic-
ally as traffic agents and solicitors in
their sections. As a result OF their
activities the Shipping Board has as
signed eleven steel ships to this serv-
Ice which are operated by the South
atlantic Maritime Corporation as
rtgular liners to West Indian and
South American ports and are carry
ing full cargoes.
But all this carefully developed sys-
tenn faces wreck in the proposition
that the government shall now dis
pose OF Its fleet. As one of the direc-
tors in the South Atlantic Maritime
Corporation said to me: "Our South
ern cities are not at present in a posi-
tion 10 buy these ships. II thrown on
the market they would unquestionably
be snapped Up by Northern capital
and the local public spirit which IL
now developing our ports would be
left without an object We believe
that IL given time to demonstrate that
the ships can be run proftably, we will
ourselves be able to buy them and to
continue the service which is so great
ly to the advantage OF the South and
the Middle West
4 Constructive Policy.
I Mr.. Holden A. Evans, president of
! the Baltimore Dry Dock and Ship
1 building Co, whose own port is not
one of those affected by the organi-
cation of which ] write, spoke spe-
! cifically on the policy which should
be maintained by the government in
! tiding over the present emergency
In the shipping business. He said:
, MY suggestion would be that Con-
! gress should lay out a shipping pro-
gram covering five years, during
which time the people would be
educated to the Importance of the
shipping proposition and realize how
important to the nation is the con-
q tinuance of present conditions. There
should be progressive reduction
in the price of ships. For two years
they might be sold to Americans
only at $500 ton; then drop to sl75
ton. Further reductions might be
made at the expiration of periods of
Two and hNc years. 1t is entirely
probable that the whole fleet would
not be disposed Of until the end OF
the longer period. In the meantime
they could he allocated to various
ports as they are now on a profit
sharing basis. This would give
time for the development of new
trade routes: for the education of
the poopl" to the Importance of the
shipping fnIustry; for shipyards to
get away from the hectic and ex+
travagant methods Of war time. and
so to adjust themselves to Condi-
tiOns that they could build in COM
petition with the Clyde.
The great fleet that we have now
was built at public cost to serve
/ the whole nation. and the nation
still needs that service. 1t would be
blunder. even an outrage to let IL
pass into a few hands at a price far
Mellow what the ships cost Con-
Gress should not only protect the
governments investment in these
/ ships, but ii should take such steps
: that every port ON the Atlantic and
I the Pacific shall he able to share in
. the fullest degree in an American
merchant marine"
This is the general feeling through
the South. In all of its cities. even
the small ones. chambers of COM
merce and citizens associations are
taking action for the maintenance
of the advantages. that have accrued
J to the South Atlantic States under
the brief experience they have had
with shipping facilities of their own
and with railroad rates which have
ceased to discriminate against them
and in favor Of northern ports.
The Possible Political Effect.
To what extent a distinctly in
dustrial and progressive interest
SUCH as this may affect the SOUTH $
attitude on partisan politics it is.
! OF course. impossible to estimate.
The issue is certainly of enough
! Importance to divert the Southern
mind from local issues. which have
hitherto been dominant in their ma
: tional elections. 1t is fair to point
out that the advantages that the
South has thus far derived have
come from organizations created by
Democratic administration The
railroad administration has given
. the equitable rates for which that
section had vsinly pleaded for a
quarter of a century. The Shipping
Board has allocated to the five
ports the vessels which they have
demanded. But today they are con-
fronted by the possibility that with
! the return of the railroads to pri-
vate hands their advantageous
rates will be withdrawn. and with
the sale of the American merchant
fleet the ships will he withdrawn
fTnrn THAR hnfnrn h.N
time to arrange for their purchase
These acts. IL consummated. Will
have been performed by the Demo-
cratic administration, and resent
ment will he strong. II not con-
summated before election the men
ace of their accomplishment will
be very present in the Southern
mind and will. If | may judge from
conversations | have had with rep
rpsentative citizens of the seaboard
States, lead to careful inquiry
among candidates as to the attitude
, they will assume on these uues-
tions. A distinctly progressive
I issue of this character always has
tendency to elevate the character
of politics and to break down party
lines. There are signs discernible.
particularly in North Carolina, that
this tendency may be registered by
very material increase in the Re
publican vote, and not impossibly
by the election of at least two Re-
publicans to Congress. OF the like
lihood of that result l will have
more to say in letters written from
the seaboard States.
q