Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-28
His Baltimore Address
(Coptipued frop, Pane One0

a provision was made. before-or in
deed after-the armistice, to bridge
the passing from war to peace. This
was no mere oversight. but deliber-
ate avoidance. In September, 1915
, an earnest attempt was made in the
Senate. under Republican sponsorship.
10 create by concurrent resolution Il
joint congressional committee on re-
construction. with ample powers of
inquiry and report. Encountering IA
vorable reception in Congress. from
members OF both parties, :he proposal
met prompt quietus in the President
blunt disfavor of any form of con-
gressional advice or suggestion as 10
after-war policies.
The result vas that the signing Of
the arrnistice ushered in a veritable
condition of save who can" in our
economic life. Industry. commerce.
labor, financial were left to
struggle and drift. While the admin
istration was intent on an unavail-
ing pursuit of an international
super government and concerned as
to domestic affairs only in detached
opportunism.
1t is entirely within bounds to in
SYST that had there been a careful
preparatory survey of the problems
certain TO present themselves as the
nation demobiliZed. we should have
escaped many of the trials to which
We have been subjected in the past
two years and from the evil pos
slbilities of which we are even now
far from free. ssss
important Piece Of Legislation
The merchant marine act Of 1920.
prepared under Republican leader
ship and passed by Republican
congress, can be fairly described as
one of the most important laws en-
acted in our generation. Like every
pioneer undertaking. il has defects
and shortcomings which time will
disclose and experience enable us
to repair. But as a legislative pro-
ject. conceived in the broadest shirt
of national building, il stands
forth as great constructive
achievement
The purpose Of the measure is. in
sentence. the promotion and
maintenance of a merchant marine
OF the best type OF modern ships. fv-
ing the American flag. manned nv
American seamen. owned by private
capital and operated by private
energy, fulfilling a national inspira-
ton"
Ihe phenomenal emergence Of
great American merchant marine is
one OF the most striking economic
consequences of the World war In
1874. the total tonnage registered
for foreign trade under the Amer
lean flag was 1866 600 gross tons.
TO-DAY thanks TO the quick sense of
the American people as to the crit
zeal importance of shipping in'the
world war, and to the invipcible
genius Of American industry in
surmounting governmental DELAY
and administrative ineficiency
there is ready for our flag some
l2,500.o00 gross tons of sea-goine
vessels.
The importance Of our new mer-
chant marine is not alone that il
saivaSes and puts to use a vast and
costly body of war material. nor
even that it adds great new activ-
ity to the nations business life. as
well as wholesome safeguard to
the country's security: but. more
significant still, it provides the
mechanism wherewith we can re-
tain and enlarge the economic van
tage ground in world commerce and
world finance which we now enjoy. ,
New Industries Spring Up
In Maryland, as in many other |
sections of the country new indus |
tries have sprung up in the war
years sometimes directly related TO |
war needs, more often to supply