The Washington times., 1920-05-26
Members of Congress, Will
You Stand For This
New Ship Grab?

II ANNV OAAAP OAOOs
We often hear vaguely of that Invisible Government
Which both the old parties and most political leaders
But in this sale of the German ships which President
Wilson AND LEADERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
carrying out actually see the smooth noise
less secret Invisible Government AT WORK.
1t operates just eectuay and iresistby with one
party the other it gets control and 1t now
in control of some of the leaders of both parties.
President Wilson himself described this power in his
campaign book, "The New Freedom " when he said:
"The masters of the Government of the United
States are the combined capitalists and manufacturers
of the United States is written over every intimate
page of the records of Congress- written all through
the history of conferences at the White House."
His defiance during his first term of the so-called
money Power his opposition to the self appointed
trustees of wealth who secretly administered the laws OF
the country enrich themselves for Mr. Wilson the
confidence and support of the West and thus secured his
reelection.
Four months after he became President Mr. Wilson, in
q special message to Congress- urged GOVERNMENT
OWNED merchant marine He called attention to the fact
that foreign commerce. carried in American ships once
ninety per cent had declined that only eight per cent
was carried under the American flag We were de-
pendent upon foreign shipping agencies
The President declared that American enterprise
exceed in dealing with other problems had proved itself
incapable in this Every enterprise breathing e conquest
profit the in which Americans engaged operated
under foreign flags paid tribute to foreign insurance COM
panies and subordinate to foreign control OF ocean
traffic.
The most conspicuous of these pseudo American
operating under the British flag was the
Mercantile Marine organized in 1902 by j. Morgan.
Nominally American line, this company has never
been patriotic in principle purpose or practice It was
organized speculative holding company always to be
subordinate British shipping interests and British control
It's articles of agreement contained this explicit provl
sion amazing to any patriotic American:
"The British pesses shall remain British not merely nom
aay but in reality a" ao s g Of s the nsa" the the tsss yesss
shall fly the British flag. their officers shall be
British and reasonable part of their crews shall be drawn
from the nation"
The war came It gave President Wilson the Ameri-
canowned merchant marine he had asked for There came
into the possession of President Wilson the finest fleet Of
passenger and freight ships in the world.
The twenty nine ships in the former German feet in
cluded the largest ship in the world the 500ton Water
land the finest passenger ship of the North German Lloyd
the 00on Kronprnzessn Cece the 25O ton George
Washington (he Presidential shp) the 22O00ton Amer
ka the 19OOOton Kaiser Wilhelm H. and twenty three
others
AS the business of transporting troops was
finished these splendid ships which had been operated
with great by naval officers during the
ordered by President Wilson be sold for about ONE
QUARTER their value the very syndicate organized by
the Morgans and dominated by British directors whose sub
sevence foreign interests President Wilson had exposed
in his special message to Congress- asking Tor Govern
ment-owned merchant marine in 1914
The sale was arranged secretly The terms were not
dvuged until everything had been settled by private nego
tiaton. There was to be a mock auction SALE
The price be $28000000 for twenty nine great
ships-a feet that had been officially appraised by Major
John Devereaux York. naval architect of the Government
Shipping Board as worth $2150000O0. The Wall Street
syndicate to have twenty years in which to pay for the
ships
The official appointed by President Wilson, who nomi
nally negotiated this wanton sacrifice of public property
was John Barton Payne corporation lawyer attorney Tor
thirty five railroads in which the Morgans organizers OF
the Mercantile Marine syndicate also the dominating
financial power.
This deal was arrested by the suit of William Randolph