Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-08
FIRM DIRECTION CAN SAVE
OUR MARITIME PRESTIGE
Opportunities Of the New Shipping Board
Chairman outstrlp Even His
Heavy Responsibilltie

most unpopular ottCCS ever IN the GIT OF an
American President. Merely by mentioning
| their suitability for the post. Mr.. Harding
has struck terror into the hearts of some of
the ablest citizens of the Republic.
1t is no secret that the responsibilities
and opportunities of this important position
have gone begging. Not only have experts
well fitted to take up the work expressed
disinclination equal to that of meeting their
dearest foe in Heaven" but the public too,
has swelled the chorus of pity and alarm.
Regarded in some quarters as the latest
lamb to the sacrifice Is Albert u. Laskcr, of
Chicago. His original refusal on the plea
of ignorance of shipping matters, has been
followed by second request from the Presi
dent and Mr.. Lasker. who is an advcr-
tising authority and business man of varied
interests. has gone to Washington to discuss
one of the mightiest tasks in which this
Government has ever been engaged.
The job ought also to be inspiring, for
il embraces nothing less than the assertion
of a revived American maritime cminencc,
wholly unimagined a few years ago.
But for an embarrassing variety Of rea
sons some of which would be hard to justify
in logic, the restoration of the flag to the
high seas is n subject that has provoked an
ship opponents are in large numbers bitterly
aversc to the Shipping Board. Competitive
foreign steamship interests naturally fear its
resources aud have strven diligently to
deprecate the good accomplished and to over
emphasize the defects and mistakes which
mar the record of a monumental under
taking.
There Is also curious class Of Ameri-
cans subscribing to the long fashionable
notion that this country Is incapable Of
achieving maritime distinction. It Is these
IL n,l &c ,t r1ats tha
utterly fallacous report that Americans are
not using their own ships.
Senator Pomerene echoed this nonsense In
Congress last week. Apparently It matters
little that his foolish words can be dsproved
by actual facts. The impression that they
are true is widely prevalent.
Modesty is not generally regarded as an
attribute of the national character. But,
perhaps to prove the rule. a very consider
able number of Americans are inclined to
view the shipping venture as one stained
with hopeless failure.
What these critics. il they arc teachable,
have yet to learn is the vast gulf dividing
an experiment born of pressing emergency
from an authoritative, organized enterprise
governed by a policy long enough in force
either TO justify or condemn its adoption.
Unfortunately. fixed principles are not
easy to discern in the Shipping Board as it
has been conducted up to date Its opera
tion has been handicapped bv extravaganza
in addition to the costly obstacles resulting
from the high cost of labor and materials
during the war period Many of the losses
suffered, many of the grevous errors COM
mtted can never be made good.
But IL confusion is not to become worse
confounded the time for starting afresh, for
organizing the board on principles of sane
business efficiency and, most of all. of popu-
larizing it with the public. is critically at
hand. The question of the propriety OF the
Government in the shipping business Is out
of order.
The day may come when suitable dtspo-
sition of all the federally owned vessels can
be made. But it is not now. The board
exists. 1t cannot be instantaneously exter
minated by gestures of indignation.
The Government Of the United States
controls one of the finest fleets of both cargo
and passenger vessels ever assembled under
one flag Despite the futile wooden ships,
despite the steel vessels unsuitable in type
to present day commercial demands. this
statement holds true. What are we going to
do about II?
Mr. Lasker, IL he clinches the Presidents
offer. will find his courage and patience
tested to the uttermost As successful
invader of the art of advertising he should
be skilled in countering adverse propaganda,
which is in this instance blend of sincere
caution, political interference, deliberate
misrepresentation and downright ignorant
dcnunciation.
All this Is only part Of the defenses that
must be carried. Much of the shipping legis-
lation now in force lays regrettable burdens
upon an intelligent administration of an
American merchant marine. The measure
of protection afforded by the Jones act,
passed last year. was probably we'll intended,
but its operation has been confined chiefly to
the realm of theory.
The section Of the law authorizing the
United States to impose discriminatory
duties upon imports entering the country in
foreign vessels has never been executed It's
operation involves the abrogation of n batch
of treaties and conventions between the
United States and n number of foreign
nations.
Mr.. Wilson refused to issue the multiplying
proclamation President Harding has taken
no outward action, although 1t is reported
that Secretary Hoover is examining the diff
culties of the case. These are obviously
formidable.
Meanwhile, the Government owned ship
ping plan, conceived under costly and alb
normal conditions, is lamentably crippled.
A subsidy arrangement would, Of course,
nave ODNlHtPu Ill SuCh lduBlts' anu Dy tHlS
time the Shipping Board could have been
enabled tn define Ind execute some working
formula of progress. But the words 'ship
subsidy" although successfully adopted by
every leading maritime nation of the globe,
has long been wormwood In the mouths Of
Democratic legislators.
This explains the clumsness Of the alleged
relief incorporated in the Jones bill. The
new Administration, however, is not ham
| pered by tradition in this regard. Should it
| eventually bow to common sense, many of
the Shipping Board problems would be
clarified without the cost Of involving this
Nation in the treaty cancellation muddle.
Meanwhile, patience is the watchword
which the public can" proftably afford 10
adopt There are enormous difficulties in
the way of a satisfactory management Of the
Governments shipping enterprise. But to
declare that these are unconquerable is alb
suTd.
The Shipping Board is far too new a
venture to be viewed with DESPAIR. 1t de