The Washington herald., 1922-06-21

rebponsfbflfty. ana reGarotnR
which there can be but one
opinion when our people are
acquainted with the fects. One
is the handling of our shipping
assets TO the highest advan-
tage, without continued loss to
the public treasury. The other
Is the establishment OF an en-
cient merchant marine. when
opportunity is beckoning as
never before. as an agency of
commerce and an avenue 10
Influence in peace. and an In
dispensable element Of defense
IL we are again involved In
war No argument IL needed
on the last essential other than
the reminder that we buiided
our vast tonnage as a war me-
cessfty. and no one thought TO
complain OF the excessive cost
or the ultimate accounting.
The question is not TO be
preJudiced by the old and worm
out cry against subsidy. II
there IL insistent use Of a term
so long employed to awaksn a
public hostility. let II be known
that we are subsidizing today
by paying losses aggregating
nifty millions year. fog made
quate service of no perma-
nsnce, while the pending meas
ure contemplates no such out
. lay. and is paid only for
specified service which is the
base of a merchant marine At
to compete with the maritime
= powers of the world.
what Sea Power Means.
Moreover. the term subsidy.
implying bestowaI upon special
interests can no longer be ap-
piled 10 public service where
the aid is extended only until a
normal earning 10 developed,
and must be returned after the
earnings reach 10 per cent
return on actual investment,
certified under government
audits. All this the pending
measure provides.
The larger question is that
OF national policy m availinE
ourselves of our tonnage and
the present opportunity to es-
tablish a great American mer-
chant marine. II we are TO
think of only a self-contained
republic. aloof from the world.
perhaps we may go on depend
ing upon our competitors for
our carriers by sea- But such a
course challenges every aspira-
ito and narrows our vision. No
during prominence or abiding
good fortune except in proper
tion to its eminence on the
seas. II is the unvarying story
of national power and influ-
ence throughout all civiliza-
tion. The rare development of
our own land in a century and
half of national life is no
contradiction. because we were
boundless in our untouched re-
sources until now. and even
with them we felt the impetus
or our sea-carrying power
until steam and oil superseded
the sails which whitened the
seas.
Foreign Opposition.
In the new order Of the
world We shall no longer be
self-reliant. We ask no fayors.
but We do believe in American
genius and capacity under
equal opportunity. 1t does not
become us to go on paying
tolls TO the world. when our
righteous purposes in trade are
better promoted by serving
ourselves In making our tend
ers In the marts of the world.
AT the risk Of excessive
length. let me point out what
believe to be a well-screened
source of opposition to an aut-
standing and confident Ameri-
can course in this matter. No
well developed maritime power
or the old world is craving the
development of our shipping.
we can not complain .thereat. /
confess an admiration for the
national spirit which ALWAYS
thinks of the interests Of the
homeland first. crave its
manifestations here at home in
solving this problem. Other ma
uons know the value of sea-
carrying as an adjunct of trade.
and the individual discourage
ment abroad to our worthy
aims-a disbursement often
insidiously disseminated here
ought TO argue an American in
terest no Longer to be ignored.
Calamity to Face.
i have not attempted 70 ar
sgue the merits OF the pending
bill in detail. do hope 10
have members convey To arrt-
cultural. mining and Industrial
constituencies the relation Of
future shipping and foreign
trade 10 the maintained good
fortunes In their pursuits, and
stress the fact that now, IL
ever. with ships ready for car
goes and crews, our peopIe
must take their place on the
seas, or surrender every such
aspiration, and liquidate, at
Whatever price Is necessary the
assets at our command. EyAn
If we mistakenly assent 70
liquidate. l am well persuaded
that the favoring policy con-
templated in this bill will save
hundreds of millions in that
liquidation. The rightful course
concerns our immediate good
fortune. and has infinitely more
to do with the fortunes and the
prestige of the greater republic
which Is ever in the making.
Frankly. l feel deeply the re-
sponsibility. / think IL a ma
tional calamity to fail in the
waiting opportunity. 1 can but
believe the American people will
be in accord. II they appraise
the Immediate problem in the
continuation of losing millions
through our present operations,
and sense the situation as IL re-
lates to the Amerfcan futp