New-York tribune., 1922-11-12
Marine SI,0aU ProUes Value
As Shipping's Clearing House
Provides Common Meeting Ground for Discussion of
Current Problems; Future Expostions Depend
ON Prosperity of American Merchant Marine
BY David S. Kennedy

The second annual convention and ex.
position of the American Marine AS.
socIaticn, which has just closed at the
Grand Central Palace, has established
its value as a clearing house for ship.
ping information and as a medium
for arousing public interest in marine
affairs. The show was a distinct adj
vance over the preceding one, but there
still is opportunity for improvement
particularly in making an appeal to this
general public
One question which naturally arises
is whether the show is to be per-
manent institution This was recog-
ni3cd by the American Marine Associa-
tion in giving prominent place on its
program to discussions of legislation
The success of future expositions de-
pends almost entirely upon success
full merchant marine under the Amer
lean flag. II the present handicaps
arising from capital and operating
costs and such restrictions as the
Daugherty ruling are continued it is
Inevitable that United States shipping
will gradually recede TO its relative
position before the war. without q
market for marine equipment, it ss
not probable that equipment manu-
facturers will be able to maintain
annual exhibitions.
The success of the marine show as
public spectacle is proved by the
fact that until noon yesterday more
than 10000 visitors had been admitted
at the gates. With the exception of
the automobile show, this was the
largest number recorded for any sini-
l.. al Il
Palace.
The chief mistake in the manage
Ynent of the show was in the arrange
nent Of the program of addresses. The
experience of the week proves that
visitors will flock to see exhibits, but
they will not spend an afternoon
listening to speeches. The meetings Of
the various organizations held in CON
nection with the show were we'll at
tended, but others were neglected by
the general public. If this feature is
to be made successful it would seem
that the addresses should be concen-
trated, preferably at the times when
the sessions of the marine associations
are under way
The marine show has done it's part
this year in affording an opportunity
to speakers to present facts bearing on
The problem. The people of the coun.
try will support consistent laws TO,
the upbuilding of merchant feet only
il they are made familiar with the diff.
ficulties confronting our ships.
The exposition attracted wider
public interest than the one q year
ago Every effort should be made to
extend this influence. Despite the in.
PRODUCTION of wireless, better construc
tion of ships and other improvements
which have robbed the sea of many o1
its dangers the romance of shipping
has not disappeared. People are in
terested in inventions tending to in
crease safety, new life-saying appa
tatus, better boats, mechanical devices
which perform their tasks more eff
cieutly than their human counterparts
One of the certers of attraction il
the show was "Iron Mike" Another
was the model of the Leyiathan.
third was the 12.500-pound propeller
so evenly balanced that it could b.
turned on its axis with one hand.
Exhibits designed to catch the eyes
Of the non technical visitors would ado
to the popularity Of the exposition
Moving pictures, radio entertainments
and other features have proved val
uable. In this connect on it should
he remembered that the marine show
must compete with the theaters, The
picture houses, the rodeo and the Hip
podroma, though naturally along diff.
ferent lines. Not only must these at.
fractions be provided, but they must
be called TO public attention.
Public Interest Growing
A hundred years ago, shipping
played much greater part in the pub
lie life OF the Un ted States than il
does to-day. At that time the fringe OF
states along the Atlantic depended to q
larger extent upon their merchant
ships The launching of a new vessel
an improvement in design, a record
voyage and the other incidents of tbs