The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-11-16
BENSON REPLIES To CRITICS
WHOOPPOSE MERCHANT MARINE
Chairman Of shipping Board
saws Tie Has Been on Trail
Of Wrong Doors
WANTS SQUARE DEAL
Relieves America Can Maintain
Position a. shipping Ma
ton by Hard Work

csarleston. c. Nov. fa-lteplyins
- critics of the shipping board ana
emergency fleet corporation Hear NJ
mrsi william Beusun. chairman W
~ board. declare din a. address heit
tonight before ths south Atlantic ports
eaAeeiaiion his fellow eauntrymen'
.auid DEPEND upon II that no wrenEdoer
concerted win the board 'sAiil escape
r his wronu d0ing j. called 70 my at
teuil0n
..Nai only have ms sied upon me
closest watch upon ali matters. snid
chairman Benson. bat I have followed
~ WORK ~ the shipping board in
ssrrv mort ~ ihc world with ihc one
Thought ~ mlnd that we are now
rsarhlne thst crucial moment which
.arlls either the success 0r failure on
permanent merchant marine
There "a ~ EFFORT on our part 10
.hlrk whatever responsibility We nave
sssumed. We haze insisted mat AZ au
Times the records are open g me pun
~ livery facility Is offered 10 those
who desire Information.
eIt i an easy matter for any one to
plck nmNs in an organization hhe lle
.bioplnn board Ne had - train no,0A
shin builders. and Ia the manning ~
oar ships We have bad % train thou-
smnds ~ men.
a0f course. ln an orsanizatlon of
thie maHnltude YOU VIII uncover
sgstsmaile enort % defraud The men
vho We depend upon % be ehee "a
mon those who might be tempted to
~ wrons bear ! heavy responsibility
Il they failed Va. but in an orsanika-
lion spending mere than three billion
dollara where. a. the laTeest steam
.bip operators iu me world. millions ~
dollars are expended from day TO day,
\ would 81 impossible 90 prevent All
wrong dalnK ar - a. business without
.unrflng financial losses from time 70
time
Men Of vision viii take into consider
atlon the whole picture presented ~
shlpplng problems, Chairman Benson
asserted
N mistakes have been made ne
sald Thay were mistakes that natuf-
any NAY be expected ~ such siupeh-
aous enterprise inyolving a. II d"es
the active employment of more thah
40 seaeolnr vessels With thn mahi-
falA prohlems involved in ship opera
lion ne completion of huge ship
hntldlnw program embraclne the pay
ment n millions - dollars and the set-
Uamrnt of thousands "a claims which
eome A. : result 80 au EFFORT 20 be tair
AZ thone men who when Wc needed
thrm plaerd their facilities st our dis-
nasal ana rndeaSurcd 81 DO every thtnE
Within their power % help this coun-
u n ~ ship hulldlng pr0sram.
I'VE are engaged IN 20 child's PLAY
a,,r enort q world wide. cur work
aches into every port - the world
n Affects every interest u u y0ur
huainrs. 90 watch This development
nnd II critically examine our work
fram day 90 day lt ls your business
NJ question what We DO. u i 4 good
iblns that men are awakened 60 The
.pi~nald opportunity slipplng anords.
put while II Il na chlld's play % build
Yn thls vast world wide organization.
ao nsv ii il a child's plas On the part
~ anV one Who hecdlcssly spreads er-
raunaoua impressions which tend 90
.te.tro, CONFIDENCE In cur ability %
maintain. support ana develop q perma
nenl merchant marine. privately oM ned
M we ask IS constructive criticism.
The south - playing a. important
nara in the development ~ the met
aaul marine Chairman Benson TOLD
the association
Non men a. the south have W
rullaf responsibility. he declared An
n0unclng as did in the port " View
Nark that We would spread shippins
throughout thp cuuntry, u was win
tbs hopc and belief that when TIE task
,Nas prevented 20 the men % tae south
snd the gllf. that they would meet the
ssur ard believe results show thal
,se have done splendidlY un 90 the
present time. Records % the shlppins
hoard shaw that Ne have allocated
many ships % the southern ports and
these ships have catered u services -
many parts ~ the Wurid csrrying pro
sttsts 10 America ln ahins owned aud
s-..Ht.A - &c..