The Alaska daily empire., 1920-11-30
America's Shipping Problem.

Manufacturer and Industrial News Bureau)
 The Jones Act for the purpose of protecting and building up the American merchant marine has brought to the attention of the American people the needs and importance of shipping industry. The act has been attacked by foreign interests generally and has been subject to criticism in country.
 The very fact that foreigners critcise the act severely shows where the shoe pnches for this act would break up the monopoly which foreign inter ests have had on American shipping The people of the United States have three billion dollars invested in ships which must eventually be operated by Amer can firms. We have got to build up trade routes and establish offices and business relations in many countries where competition is keen and foreign lines have long established connections.
 The Jones bill provides that if necessary, prefer entia railroad freight may be allowed goods produced in the United States and destined for foreign shipment in American bottoms This section of the law has never been put into effect and it may be- but it is good provision foi ,he protection of American shipping Various foreign countries have similar provisions for the protection of their lines.
 The Jones law is only beginning The American people study their shipping problems. They must become ship owners and young must learn the trades of the Give the American equal chance, he will hold his against foreign competition. We must learn to think in terms of ships we must invest our money in ships, and we must understand that American ships fully operate under restrictive legislation which inn poses higher operating charges in the face of unham pered foreign competition.
 Every American should take personal pride in helping to establish conditions which would the success of a growing American merchant marine
 Nice-President Haines of the Pacific Steamship Company has predicted that in 25 years will be doing business the Pacific than across the Atlantic and his opinion has just been strength ened by statement of F. R. Sandford Jr of the Asia Banking Corporation of New York, who says China holds the greatest future for American trade of any country in the world.
 No other nationality stands higher with the Chinese than the American and if take advantage of the present opening, other country will"
 Paul Page Witham, American Trade Commissioner who has been making study of shipping and general trade situation in the Far East for the government says: China possesses the basic conditions of good credit, ie., nationally endowed country inhabited by conservative hard industrial people in a mood to develop along modern lines"
 The surface has been scratched in that country and yet trade with the Chinese last year amounted to $2S7,0 ,000,000 while the total foreign trade with China amounted to $1,4O5, 800, ,0OO
 MT. Witham says Industrial deyelopment alone should make 1t necessary to import goode equal in value to $500 per capita 5000 GOO OO0 annually and exports to the same amount.
 Here is Americas opportunity but it hinges almost entirely upon our merchant marine development The Atlantic States, the Middle States and Pacific States all have their products ship to China but A suc eessful overseas trade will be developed excep with American carriers and American foreign offices Tn the Orient. Let America begin to think in terms of ships.