New-York tribune., 1920-09-11
Shipping g Urged
As Protection
Industries
Head Of National Marine
League Says Trade Fleet
Is Business Insurance
for the American Nation
Re Exports a Necessity
Their Development Said To
Be Prime Requisite for
Safeguarding Commerce

Protection that has heretofore been
afforded TO American industry by a
protective tariff must now be supple
meuted by another kind Of protection
in the form of an efficient merchant
marine, says P. H. W. Ross, president
Of the National Marine League.
Up to the year 1914 all that we did.
practically, was TO create and to pro-
duce," says Mr.. Ross. "Then we sat
isly at our ocean gates and let who
would carry away 90 per cent of our
products in their ships. Less than 10
per cent of American products moved
over the world in American ships. All
over the world English ships carry not
only their own goods but those of other
countries, and by means of developing
the power Of distribution they have ac-
cumulated great wealth, great power
and great domination all over the
world. 1t is not the product of Great
Britain that has made Great Britain
rich. but the products of the world that
distributed all over the world.
"Why are we compelled to engage in
the worldwide distributive business
more than ever before? The reason is
that before the war this country prac-
ticaly had no credits abroad. On the
contrary, we borrowed all we could
from any source whatsoever. In the
brief space Of few years. however,
'ge have become a creditor nation. We
10 not owe the world anything in par
ticular, but the world owes us SS,OO0,-
100000 to 10000 900. 900, and in the
wears to come will probably have to
owe us S4,000,000,Q00 OR s5,0O0,000, 900
more.
Danger of Payment in Goods
snow comes the point. How is the
world going to pay its debt to Amer
lea? 1t cannot pay IN money, but only
in goods or services of one description
or another. Admitting such to be the
case, what shall we do with these goods
when they get to America? If we are
to accept in unlimited amount goods
manufactured in Germany, or in France,
or in Italy. or England, or anywhere
else, from any country owing us money
and bringing its goods here indiscrimi-
nately--if we attempt to absorb with
cut discrimination such offerings, what
would follow? We should be swamped
by goods made much more cheaply than
We in America can possibly turn them
out in American mills at American
rates OF pay.
ave must, whether we want to or
not, engage in new kind Of business
the transshipment or reexport business.
Heretofore in America all we have
thought OF was to export something
that was grown or made in America, CT
import something that was to be con-
sumed or made use of in America. 1t
has never occurred 10 US to take some
thing from Java, for instance, and sell
II in Peru. Yet il is exactly that trans
shipment business that has been the
means OF making Great Britain so
great and wealthy and powerful as
she is.
Many Of the most prominent and
valuable industries of America depend
for their source Of supply of raw ma
terlal upon colonies, outposts and trad
ing centers controlled by Great Britain
ana to some extent maintained by her.
HOW? Not so much by force of arms
as by force OF maritime expansion
by force Of reeXport trade, which we in
turn must develop if we ever expect to
be master nation, and especially if
we ever expect to protect American in
dustry.
Ships as Protection
The greatest protection that we can
possibly Get for American industries
IS something that viii keen American
Industries from being swamrec bv a
terrific load Of cncaplv made European
goods which would entirely cxtnguish
the running of American mills. And
what is that 'somcthing'? The answer
Is ,,:r ,Snips- Sims and how to use them
The ONLY salvation ahead of us from
a PRACTICAL business mans standpoint
IS TO work tooth ANA nail for the
ceve!onmen, of the American merchant
marine and for the establishment of
markets. in foreign lands COR the pur-
pose Of marketing our products IN
rev fields. TIE rate of exchange has
acted as a tariff wall and a verv high
taFiF wall, IN favor Of our competitors
IL has Weakened our market immeas-
uraoy. There are various develop
ments outside Of the development Of
the shlp2lAg business itgelf that have
fastened the necessity Of an American
merchant marine unon the business
men and upon .he industries OF Amer
lea to an extent That would have taken
many years - develop in the ordinary
course Of events
~ Is not necessary TO emphasize the
absolute n"ccsSl.y as 4 matter of COM
mon sense and a. "a matter Of business
lhsurance-'n" absolute necessity of
maintaining ar American merchant
marine. Tie neoplc must vote for il,
must put lacir moncy in it and must
tske an actual :n.eyes. in it, because
II they do not our country will always
ne soryitor ration, unless We also
oeVe'op the dis,r!hutiye side of our
coGntryg actlV!tia.