New-York tribune., 1921-09-27
Ian to Prefer
y. S. Crews Wins
Official Praise
Decision of American Steam-
ship Owners Associations
to Employ Aliens Only in
Necessary Cases Extolled
Benson Sees Great Benefit
He Says This Policy Will DO
Much Toward Giving This
Nation a Merchant Marine

The declared policy of the American
Steamship Owners Association for q
fixed preference in employment Of
American citizen crews has been warm
" commended by official Washington,
according to advices received here yes
terday by that organization.
"The Shipping Board is heartily in
accord with your action" wrote Albert
D. Lasker, chairman, "and is glad to
have assurance of your cooperation in
carrying out the general principles Of
Americanization."
Representative William S. Greene,
chairman of the Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries of the House of
Representatives has made statement
thanking the association for its ex-
pressed views, adding that "it will be
put in the files of the committee for fu-
ture reference as the occasion requires
and occasions do frequently
arise during sessions of the committee
whenever questions affecting seamen
are the subject for discussion"
Commissioner Edward C. Plummer,
Of the Shipping Board, writes:
II believe that is step in the right
direction, as l am aware that there has
been much criticism that American
sho owr have favored aliens. be-
lie for the association to give
the les publicity to this action"
Admiral Benson Gratified
Almiral Benson, former chairman
and now Commissioner Of the Shipping
Board. declared: ~ know of no par
ticular incident that has given me more
personal qualification than the knowl-
edge of this action. / hope and urge it
will not be merely a formal operation
and that it's practical development may
not be forgotten in the stress and close
cutting that present conditions impose.
"The statement History affords no
example of successful maritime ma
tion that secured the bulk of its sea-
than it's own inhabitants, is so true
and SO obvious that it is difficult to
understand why we have been so long
unappreciative Of the fact. 1t can only
be accounted for by the fact that prac-
tically we have had no merchant marine
for SO many years.
'In addition to the value of this
principle to naval reserve, I believe
that ships manned and officered by
thoroughgoing American citizens will
prove so much more efficient that it
will put our ships on a paying basis, re-
gardless of crews wages or any other
handicap with which we may be faced
: by our foreign competitors. I there
fore congra tulate the Steamship Own
ers' Association on their splendid ac-
ton"
Others to approve of the stand taken
by the association are A. J. Frey, vice
president of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration; Senator Wesley L. Jones,
father of the merchant marine act, and
j. G. Jenkins, acting director of the
Shipping Board.
Frey's Approving Words
II am pleased to see the steps taken
by the American Steamship Owners
Association to impress upon their men,
bers not only the desirability but the
absolute necessity of giving preference
to American citizens when selecting
crews" said Mr.. Frey. american ship
ping is faced with a very serious situa-
tion--more serious than most people
appreciate. During the war emergency
q great many men were taken from
other lines of employment and induced
to Fit themselves for seafaring pur-
suits. Millions of dollars were spent by
the government and others to bring
this about.
"Now shipping is at low ebb; many
vessels have been laid up and more
mi 70 ho los
are on the beach without employment.
Unless ship operators give absolute
preference to American citizens when
employing crews it will mean that
when things pick up these men will
again have drifted back to other lines
s OF employment and there will not be
enough Americans available to man our
ships"
From the office of Senator Jones
came word that he "is gratifed to
} learn Of this public declaration of
has done a very wise thing, which is
commendable from the standpoint both
of principle and OF policy"
Mr.. Jenkins said that the action of
the ship owners mo doubt will have q
good effect upon the crews, as we'll as
correct any mi understanding as to the
attitude of the employers"
News from Norfolk that aliens among
the crews of laid-up ships in that port
were being supplanted by Americans
probably will be followed soon after
the arrival here on Friday of Captain
Walter Bookwalter, in charge of the
idle ships for the Shipping Board, with
an announcement of similar action
among vessels at Jamaica Bav and
Staten Island.
Army Orders