Evening journal., 1921-10-07
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1921
MIST SUPPORT MERCHANT MARINE.

RTAKTNG Strong appeal for popular support Of The
lvI kmericai-merchdni marine Chairman tasker Of
she United States Shipping Board delivered an address be-
fsre hc Associated Advertising Clubs Of the World in
New York City on Wednesday which brisiles with facts
and is replete with wisdom The burden Of Chairman
Laskers appeal TO found In his opening sentence
Until there is an awakened consciousness the part
Of all citizens Of America that economic stability is de-
pendent on the disposal Of surplus and prod
ucs in world markets there can never be an American
merchant marine"
That is automatic. lie closes his address by saying:
"The future Of the American merchant marine is in the
recognition by The OF Kansas the miner Of Arizona,
the industrial worker OF Indiana that his continuous
ployment in dependent the carrying Of his
surplus production to foreign markets. and that only
be insured by the existence Of American bottoms"
Unquestonabyl
Between the opening and closing paragraphs OF his
speech the chairman traces the development and decline
Of our merchant marine beginning with the thirteen
States narrow strip along the Atlantic when were
seafaring nation up to 1919 when "the lure Of salt
gave place to The ca Of the unclaimed riches.tha
awaited the overland emigant" then to the present
when America which, during the period OF The conquer
ing Of its empire sefconsumng and sef-sunicen
nation by and large, now finds Itself once more II en-
ploymenf is to be general with permanent surpluses
which can only IND outlet the ocean"
Generally speaking" says Mr. Lasker the last per
cent production makes the Market and II is this last
per that must insure disposal OF to customers
in foreign lands Except with merchant marine under
control there be OF these
iia markets.
He points 10 the handieaps under which abored
when 1915 the British ships were commandeered FOR
activities He aludes to the reliance OF the navy
the merchant marine auxiliary in time, saying
"And who can promise that in the next war call
allies for the bottoms needed to transport our army
and feed and supply It and our navy9"
He reviews the financial mess which the Shipping Board
inherited from the previous administration under which
the accounting system that started with the operation
of ships had simply collapsed
When Lasker took hold the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton employed 800 persons the payroll was si6OOOOO
Today it has been cut to 5000 employees with Si2OOOOO
payroll, and more improvements in sight
He points the service Of the shipping Board fleet II
carrying the s2OOOOoO0OOO worth Of our foreign trade
the armstice The building program is PRACTICAL,
finished Money losses have been written OF to the cos
OF the war; but The ships remain potentially one Of tn
greatest assets america has insure its economic future
Mr. Lasker ihen outlines for The benent Delawarean
and others the vast problems which we have to meet l.
insure permanence TO merchant marine Handicapped
It Is by higher construction and operating costs
finds That the Jones Act which he calls "a magna chart
for Amercan.on The seas is the calculate
to our trade neet; an act which President Hardin
helped to frame, and which, during his campaign he In
dorsed, The Jones Act he asserts the force draft
the American merchant marine When it is in effectlv
operation great impulse viii be given to our carryn
trade. .4. -s.,
Mr. Lasker's speech should be read and studied by
Deawareans who have some lingering doubts TO IA
importance OF American shipping policy which is sta
wart and courageous
1t VIII clear away much doubt and explain many phase
not clear TO the lay mind