Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-21
Delivers Fighting Message
To Congress At First
Session.
CHALLENGES FOES
Says He Is Asking For Measure To
Save Treasury-Urges Congress to
Forget Local Difficulties and Get
To Work.
1By United PressD

Washington, Nov. 2l.-In a fight
ing message, President Harding TO-
day dared the foes of the administra-
tiOn ship subsidy bill to assume the
responsibility for defeating 1t.
Declaring that no proposition plac-
ed before congress ever met "a more
resolute hostility" the President, IN
a message delivered in person to the
extraordinary session of Congress,
challenged his opponents to meet the
issue fairly.
The president went on record as be-
ing opposed to the repeal OF laws such
as the LaFollette seamans act, design
ed to raise the standard of labor on
American ships, saying Justice de-
mandS their continuance until all the
world had been brought to the same
level"
Hugh voice amplifyers carried the
words of president to every corner OF
the House of Representatives.
The amplifyer, set up during the
recess, was extended into the press
gallery where newspapermen without
seeing the president could SIT at their
typewriters and follow his remarks
1t is the plan later to extend the syS-
tenn so that crowds would gather out
side the capitol and hear a message
delivered by the president inside.
The pomp and ceremony of war time
days were missing and the occaslo
was purely business function.
This problem can not longer be ig-
nored," said Mr.. Harding. Its at
tempted solution cannot longer be
postponed. The failure OF congress
to- act decisively will be no less dlSas-
trous than adverse action"
Carrying the fight with unusual ag-
gressiveness to the enemy's camp, MI.
Harding said ne challenged every IN
situation of favored interests and the
enrichment of the special few at the
expense fthe public treasury. l am
first of all, appealing TO save the
treasury.
Throughout his speech, the Presi-
dent argued that the subsidy would
save money to the Treasury because
of the large losses still being piled up
bv the Shipping Board. These were
estimated at $50000,00O year, while
the President said the cost of the sub
sidv would be half that amount.
The executive made fe&&Nt plea
that America again be raised to a
Dosition of eminence among the mari
time nations of the world.
Striking directly at the opposition
10 the measure he said, cone of three
courses is open to congress.
"The first is cOnStructive-enact the
nending bill, under which, | firmly be-
jieve. an American merchant marine,
Drivatelv owned and privately operat-
ed. but serving all the people and al
ways available to the government IN
anv emergency, may be estaolSheO
and maintained, he said.
"The second is obstructive-cOntin-
ue government operations and attend
irg government losses. and discourage
Drivate enterprise by government
competition, under which losses ar;
met by the public treasury, and wit
ness the continred losses and deterior
alton until the colossal failure ends
i'm sheer exhaustion.
"The third is acknowledgements
mo the sacrifice of our ships abroac
or tbe scrapping of them at home the
surrender of our aspirations, and thC
confession of our impotence to. the
world in general. and our humiliation
before the competing world IN partlc
ular. IL. :; ;,.,,.;
+oble II is unbelievable that m,
American people or the congress whici
expresses their power will consent
surrender and destruction. 1t i
eCpallv unbelievable that our people
and the congress translates then
wishes into action will longer sustain
nrocram of obstruction and atted
INC. losses to the treasury.
MIR. Harding said the bill was no
subsidy. but government aid IN tn,
soyoe sense as the government proVic
% aid in building inland waterway
. ord improving roads 70 aId IN IN,
o,,ovth S,y,1 of commerce. The FreS'denj
,enonbatically declared that since tn
rovernment aids industry by 'SrmS
and reclamation. water power oeVeI
onment. agriculture and mar. .keting y
other legislation, it should not heSit"o