The Washington times., 1921-07-25
SHIP BOARDLA
POLICY IS SUICIDE,
SAYS la Toilette
Senator Flags U. s. Marine az
! Counting Ruin by British
Domination and Waste.
BY H. X. REYNOLDS.
international Nsws Service.

International News Service.
Efforts of this country to build
UP a merchant marine viii end in
Colossal failure and the billions
Of dollars Of the peoples money
will have been squandered" unless
the United Statos Shipping Board
forsakes a labor policy which
strives American labor from the
ships," Senator Robert M. La Fol-
lette, Republican, Of Wisconsin de-
clared in the Senate today in urg-
ing the passage Of his resolution
directing a Senatorial investigation
of recent marine labor disputes.
Landsmen On Board.
La Toilette pointed out that the two
charges made against the Shipping
Board almost from the time OF its orr.
gin were that British influences had
shaped or influenced the policies Of the
American merchant marine, and that
the Shipping Board had been hostile to
labor organize tons OF the sea- He
suggested an inquiry into the charges
Of British influence and promised to
discuss them at a future date.
III neither OF these charges are
true" LaFoilette said. that fact
should be established and the Shipping
Board freed from the suspicion enter
tanned by millions Of our people today
that it's policies are un-Amsrican and
can never result In building up genu-
Inc American merchant marine.
The present board has shown that
30 far as its labor policy Ia concerned.
II IL apparently Identical with. that OF
its predecessor, and II It's purpose IL to
change any Of the vicious practices OF
the old board, such purpose has not
manifested itself In action. Here Ia a
board Of seven men, not one OF whom,
so far as am aware, ever had any ex-
perience in the business of marine
shipping until appointed to his present
position. Yet these men are made re-
sponsibSe for the operation, OF some
thing like 400 Government Ships. and
the disposal Of hundreds of others.
Probably $4,000. 900 900 Of the peoples
money have already gone into this en-
terprise, and hundreds OF millions,
probably billions, more will be spent
under the direction Of the board. Un-
der the circumstances. whatever infor.
nation can be obtained on the subject
ought TO be welcomed"
Thousands Forsake Sea-
La Toilette reviewed the principal
points of difference between the Ship
ping Board and the seamen In the re-
cent controversy, calling attention to
the fact that since the present Ship
ping Board took office the marine
on gineers had signed a six months
agreement accepting q Is per cent cut
in wages and agreeing substantially
to other conditions laid down by the
Shipping Board and private owners.
This socalled settlement" La Fol-
lette said, means that the whole
question will be reopened In January.
There has been no settlement, how
ever, with the groups constituting the
International Seamen's Union. The
strike has merely been declared off on
the Atlantic seacoast, which means
that many thousands Of the seamen
will leave the sea service. In fact al
ready thousands have done so, and
Others will make the best terms for
themselves possible, renewing the
struggle at a more opportune time.
"Our entire force of seamen In
therefore dissatisfied and smarting un-
der a sense OF wrong and injustice.
Those who intend to continue in the
marine service are only waiting the
time when the demand for seamen will