Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-23
HARDING HUNTS
M|ERCHANTF0R
SHIPPING BOARD
Wants Man Experienced
In Trade and Not a
Sailor
ny MARK SULLIVAN

Washington. d. g.. April %. - The
three men whom President Harding is
publicly credited with having consid-
cred Tor tho position of chairman of
inc shipping board are James A. Far
rell of the United States Steel corpor-
alton. Walter c. Teagle of the stand
ard oil Co, and Alexander T. Lcggc
OF The International Harvester Co
1t will be observed that no ono of
these men is primarily a shipping man
Each is man whose experience and
ability Is in the line of selling Ameri-
can goods in, foreign markets Far
roll grew up in the export steel bust
moss. Tcagls's experience has been
largely in tho export of oil and Lcggc's
in the selling Of American farm implc-
mcnts In Russia and other foreign
countries
This reflects something that is not
only in President HardinE's mind as
respects the shipping board but is
part OF the widest and most funda-
mental busincs policy OF tho now ad-
ministration. President Harding Is
seeking for the shipping board not
sailor but merchant. a man of large
administrative and merchandising abil-
ity, one who has knowledge and cxper-
ience of International markets and who
understands commerce in all its phases.
The theory is that whoever shall be
chairman of the shipping board shall
regard himself as. SO to speak, gem
oral manager Of the export business
OF the United States In al its phases.
The actual management of ships is
to be but n subordinate incident of his
job. He Is TO look at the world as a
whole and consider how the surplus OF
goods produced in tho United States
over the needs OF our own people can
best be marketed.
This is conception Of the shipping
board and its craftsmanship which has
not hitherto prevailed. In the past
the position has been looked upon as
purely a shipping one. The present
chairman of the board is an admiral.
and all the previous chairmcn. except
one. have been admirals or men other
wise chosen for their knowledge OF
shipping alone.
Tho Law doc. not make II easy for
President Harding to carry out his
IDEA the conception OF tho Law under
which the shipping board now func-
tions was that tho purpose OF the
board should be 10 develop our ports.
Having that conception in mind. tho
result was that in many cases the law
VAS given n sectional turn and looks
to the seven members OF the board be-
Ing chosen from various sections Of tho
country. SO that each can look jcal-
ously after the interests of his local
ports. II is certain. however, that Pres
ident iardinEs \ conception OF the
shipping board and its chairman as
the custodians not merely OF ships or
OF ports but of Americas whole export
able surplus viii prevail.
This picture OF tho bushes policy OF
the administration comes up again and
again. IT is shown In our passing the
Colombian treaty in order TO create
good viii for our oil interests In Latin
America. II Is shown in Hoover's
leadership of cooperation among Amer
lean busincs mon for foreign trade. II
II shown in the resurrection OF the
War Finance corporation for the pur-
pose Of facilitating exports. II Is
shown in the fact that the greatest
vehemcnce OF manner which President
Harding showed in his recent address
10 Congress came when he expressed the
determination that tho United STATES
shall have mercantile marine adc-
quato TO it's share in the foreign trade
OF tho world.
Policy. in its working out. will have
historic consequences too largo to bc
dealt with in this space,
Copyright. 1921. by the New York
Evening Post)