Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-20

lcnt Of this Chamber of Commerce. is
president of the international Mercan-
tile Marine Co.. the American company
which entered into the agreement al
ready referred to.
In reviewing this sequence Of hap
pcnlngS, can any sane man doubt that
the principle necessarily underlying the
establishment Of an American merchant
marine is being sacrificed to group
devoted to furthcring the interests of
the British mercantile marine or Brit
ish tradcs'f'
Franklin Denies Charges
Senator Jones charges brought n
sharp rejoindcr from i. \. =. Frank
lin. president of the company, and ere
atcd Il lively discussion.
In the course Of his address Sena-
tor Jones said an agent of the ship
ping board in New York city, who for
mcrly was in the employ of the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine, had op-
posed establishment of an Americas,
shipping line between New York and
England on the ground that it would
injure the business Of British lines
from New York"
Mr.. Franklin asked who the man was
and Senator Jones said he tlsught his
I'VE never had u man By that
name. declared Mr.. Franklin. and
asked for further information as to the
senator's charges.
senator Jones asked TO be excused,
saying he was compelled to return to
the Senate for the regular session.
senator Ransdell. Of Louisiana. who
presided. then recognized Mr.. Franklin
to reply to the charges,
1T is manifeStly unfair and unjust.
Mr.. Franklin said. for member of
make such charges against the Inter .
national Mercantile Marine. The com
pnny is American. None but Amcri
cans is on its board Of directors, and
!D per cent of its stock Is held by
Americans"
Constructive legislation to guarantee
the United States equal commercial on
portunity upon the seas was urged to
day by Senator RanSdcl. of Louisiana
at the opening of the second convention
of the National Merchant Marine As.
sociation. speaking as president of tn,
organization.
"lf We rely upon Great Britain
France. Italy. Japan or any other coun.
try to deliver our commodities and brinl
us return cargocS. the service rendered
will be secondary and the best of every
thing will naturally go to their owl
citizens. The imperative need is M
American merchant marine, built
owned and operated by Americans with
out the faintcst suspicion in their make
up of foreign sympathy
The senator suggested creation of {
naval reserve Ito cqualizc the wages o
our scamcn with the wages paid for
cignrrs." and opposed sale of shipping
board vessels to foreign interests.
Sales Policy Change Opposed
The shipping board must move slowly
in anything it does in connection with
changes in the sales policy for gov
crnmcnt vessels now in force. Chair
man Benson declared today.
Many factors must be taken int
consideration by the board in deter
disposing of the government fleet to pri
vatc ownership.
'rhcrc Is no Use blinking at tn,
truth. so far as maritime affairs ar,
concerned" Chairman Benson told tn,
association. To-day we are confronted
with big question brought on by fail
ing frcights which reflect through in
creased outlays and lcsscning OF enIn
ings.
'"This is the opportunity for the man
who desires to prove anything of n de-
pressing character. The opportunist
may proclaim to the world that now i
the time TO take stock and Immediately
get out of the shipping business. Thi,
might be true if we were not socmnly
charged by the law of the land to es
tablish n permanent merchant marine
Mind you. gentlemen, the law says {