The Washington times., 1921-10-05
u. s. STABILITY
RESTSON SHIPS,
LASKER CLAIMS
Ship Board Chairman Warns
Ad Men Surplus Products
Must Be Sold.
by international News Service.

NEW YORK. Oct. 5.-America's
stability from the standpoint OF
peace or war depends on the insur-
ance Of q merchant marine, Albert d.
Lasker. chairman of the United
States Shipping Board declared here
today in an address delivered al q
luncheon given by the Associated
Advertising Clubs of the World.
Pleading for national realization
for the need Of a merchant marine
Mr.. Lasker pointed out four big
reasons" as follows:
]. Vast surpluses are being ainass-
ed in America. Unless goods not
needed i'm the United States are i'm
markets here will be drugged.
2. A drugged market viii disrupt
prices, and unstable prices mean un.
stable business.
8. There will be no need TO pro-
duce more goods or produce, which
will result In the stOppage Of industry
and the subsequent swelling Of the
ranks of the unemployed.
4. Foreign bottoms cannot be en-
listed to move surplus American
material because foreign nations are
striving for world trade and would
not divert their own materials to
make room for our goods.
Mr.. Lasker's address in part
follows:
Until there Is an awakened con-
seriousness on the part Of all citizens
Of America that economic stability
Is dependent on the disposal of our
surplus wares and products in world
markets there can never be an
American merchant marine.
when SURPRISES accumulate prices
are demoralized and employment ends
until the excess has been consumed.
Generally speaking, the last 10
per cent or production makes the
market and II Is this last 10 per
cent that we must insure disposal
OF TO customers In foreign lands Ex.
cept with merchant marine under
our own control there can be no
assurance of these essential markets.
The American nation today finds
itself In possession Of fleet Of $50
ocean-going steel ships Of approx
mately 1o.500,ooo lightweight tons.
concrete vessels OF over go, 600 tons,
and a wooden fleet Of 2s5 ships of
] 100000 lightweight tons. For
practical purposes we need only con.
slider the steel fleet, as the concrete
and wooden ships will be eradicated.
The Merchant Marine act of 1920
generally known as the Jones bill, has
as its preamble a magma charta for
America on the seas unsurpassed in
the annals OF our country's legislation.
1T was the thought and hope OF the
trainers OF the Jones bill that the ap-
piication OF these three major and sew.
eral other minor provisions would
render American tonnage such ex-
traneous assistance as to increase
their earning capacity so as to enable
our merchant marine to cope with for
eign competition, in spite Of its higher
original cost and subsequent greater
cost Of operations. The existence Of
these laws and mandates in the Jones
act are only the forerunner Of what
must be done to bring their application
into being. Until this time there has
not existed, as is we'll known, q fully
constituted Shipping Board, with the
organization TO study the application
of the provisions Of the Jones ac.. A
wrong application OF these provisions,
instead OF building an American
merchant marine, may destroy IT,
The right application. it is hoped. will
insure the end so much to be desired.
America, self-contained and self
sufficient while 1t was conquering an
empire Of magic wealth, finds itself
now approaching the time Of vast sur
pluscs which must be sent out into the
lands Of the worlds beyond the seas
L employment at home and mainten.
.ance and sterilization Of domestic
prices are to exist. We can not rely
on foreign bottoms to carry this sur
plus, for the foreign bottoms .neces-