Evening star., 1921-06-16
Editorial Digest
The New Shipping Board.

The majority Of the press has set its
stamp Of approval upon the appoint
ment of Albert D. Lasker as chair
man Of the United States Shipping
Board. q Job which is generally ad-
mftted to be thankless, IL not a
hopeless. one. OF course. not every
body is pleased, and the disappoint-
ment expressed by the Springfield
Republican independently is echoed
by small minority.
Under the caption, "a Board Of
Novices, the Richmond Times-Dis-
patch (democratic) predicts "a sorry
outlook. 1t quotes the Springfield Re-
publ1can's remark that instead Of
choosing man Of the caliber of the
president took Mr.. Lasker, who
knows little or nothing about ship
ping or the export trade. although
he Is reputed to have interests in an
automobile company, pork and
Deans factory. cereal food concern
club" The Times-Dispatch suggests
that perhaps Mr.. Harding is not al
together to blame" for "he tried, so it
ls saad, to get experienced men. but
enaed up with what savors of politi-
cal appointments" On this "land-
oOdTU, says IHe Dbl
timore Evening Sun Gndependent
democratic). I'VE find politicians a.
plenty" and sectional considera-
lions. the Brooklyn Eagle Gndepend-
ent democratic) complains, have had
TOO much influence in the appoint
ments. for what is needed ''is a ma
tional policy rather than a program
cality."
such criticisms. however, are the
exception and not the rule, and the
democratic Roanoke (Va). World
news considers it 'most unfortunate
tnat democrats are inclined to criti-
one may Judge from his past rec
ord the new chairman will make
sood In big way" With this state
ment the Memphis News-Scimitar (in-
oependent) agrees. declaring that the
analrs Of the Shipping Board will
now be carried on in vigorous,
ousinesslike manner"
me Pittsburgh Gazette Times IRE
puolican) apparently has a similar
estimate OF Mr.. Lasker and his new
associates as well. for it remarks:
What is wanted is action. Happily
composed of men who can and will
,, Cooperate under the leadership of
an executive deeply concerned for
tion."
The New York Evening Post Gnde-
penden). too. finds the appointments
on the whole" good. "A busines ess
task lies before the board" says the
post. and Mr.. Lasker. the new chair
ness man."
The fact that none of the members
come from the great ports is con-
sidered q distinct advantage by the
(tr6
publican):
we may now expect to see the
governments merchant fleet admin
istered to serve the commerce of all
tho people without special favor to
any port where shipping business is
ping companies, but without discrimi-
nation against them"
The chief function of the board,
which is ito find a market in other
countries for the surplus products of
the American nation" may be espe-
independently believes. under the
chairmanship of Mr.. Lasker. for. in
the opinion Of the Tacoma Ledger
independently. "he Is an organizer
and business man of exceptional
ability, whose sound judgment and
lions in his own business"
Several newspapers, while they have
no adverse criticism to register. feel
that the choice of Mr.. Lasker is. as
the Lynchburg News (democratic) re-
marks: "an experiment" 1t would
(democratic) ITO imagine a more diff
cult job than he has wished on him
by the President. If he fills it satis-
factorily he will have proved worthy
Of all that his admirers have said of
his business genius"
ShA
democratfc) quotes Characterization
Of the new chairman as "a human
dynamo" with rare genius for or
ganization," abilities which. it tersely
concludes. 'he will certainly need in
his new position" The Sioux City
that "a higher call may await Mr..
Lasker if his conduct of the Shipping
Board 10 successful" feels that since
he has political ambitions. his energy
as chairman Of the Shipping Board
will no doubt be directed in such a
administration"
AS to the policy of the new board.
the Baltimore Sun independent demo-
cratic) calls enforcement as rapidly
as possible of the government from
the business Of operating the Ameri-
promise" But the New York Globe
Independently. though it recognizes
the administration's desire to fight
shy "in every line of endeavor of
anything approaching government
ownership" nevertheless feels that
the nation may conceivably do bet
ter to hang on to its merchant fleet
until the market has recovered some
what than to sell when prices are at
the bottom"
The New York Post independently
looks at the Shipping Boards task in
slightly different light. 1t says:
chairman Lasker and his aids can
serve the country best if they reor-
ganize the boards offices on a busi-
ness basis and map out a policy of
steady liquidation, to be unfiinchingly
nurSue6"