The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-21
HARDING IDEA
FOR SHIPPING
BODY IS new
Wants Board President to
Look at World as Whole and
Consider Marketing of Our
Surplus Goods.
MENTION THREE men
BY MARK SULLIVAN


WASHINGTON, D. c., April 21.-
The three men whom President Hard
ing is publicly credited with having
considered for the position of chair
man of the shipping board are James
A. Farrell, of the United States Steel
corporation; Walter c. Teagle, of the
Standard Oil company; and Alexander
r. I.egge, of the International Harves-
ter company.
1t will be observed that no one Of
these men is primarily a shipping
man. Each is man whose experience
and ability is in the lines of selling
American goods in foreign markets.
Farrell grew up in the export steel
business. Teagles experience has
been largely in the export Of oil. and
Legge's in the selling of American
farm Implements in Russia and other
foreign countries.
This reflects something that is not
only in President Harding's mind as
respects the shipping board. but is a
part of the widest and most funda-
mental business policy Of the new ad-
ministration. President Harding is
seeking for the shipping board not
sailor, but merchant a man of large
administrative and merchandising
ability. one who has knowledge and
experience of international markets
and who understands commerce in all
its phases.
Wants General Manager.
The theory is that whoever shall be
chairman Of the shipping board shall:
regard himself as, so to speak. general
manager of the export business OF the
United States in all it's phases. The
actual management of ships is to be
but a subordinate incident of his job.
He is to look at the world as a whole
and consider how the surplus of goods
produced in the United States over the
needs of our own people can best be
marketed.
This is conception of the shipping
board and its chairmanship which has
not hitherto pFexafied. In thespdst
the position has been looked upon as
purely shipping one, The present
chairman of the board is an admiral.
and all the previous chairmen except
wise chosen for their knowledge OF
shipping alone.
Idea to Prevail.
The law does not make it easy for
President Harding to carry out his
idea The conception of the law under
which the shipping board now func-
tions was that the purpose of the
board should be to develop our ports.
Having that conception in mind, the
result was that in many cases the law
was given sectional turn and looks
TO the seven members of the board be-
ing chosen from various sections of
the country, so that each one can
look jealousy after the interests of
his local ports 1t is certain, however,
that President Harding's conception
of the shipping board and its chairman
as the custodians not merely of ships
or of ports. but of Americas whole ex-
portable surplus will prevail.
This picture of the business policy
of the administration come up again
and again. 1t is shown in our passing
the Colombian treaty in order to Gre
ate good will for our oil interests in
Latin-America. 1t is shown in Hoov-
er's leadership of cooperation among
American business men for foreign
trade. 1t is shown in the resurrection
of the war finance corporation for the
purpose of facilitating exports.
1t is shown in the fact that the
greatest vehimence Of manner which
President Harding showed in his re-
cent address to congress came when
he expressed the determination that
the United States shall have a mer-
camille marine adequate to its share in
the foreign trade of the world.
This policy. in its working out. will
have historic consequences too large
to be dealt within this space.
Copyright, 1921, by the New York
Evening Post)