The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-21

ing measure. 1ney nave a perfect
right to such an attitude. When we
look from their viewpoints, we under
stand.
| But I wish to stress the American
viewpoint Ours should be the view
point from which one sees American
| carriers at sea, the dependence of
American commerce, and American
vessels for American reliance in the
event of war. Some of the costly les
sons of war must be learned again and
again, but our shipping lesson in the
world war was much too costly to be
! effaced from the memory of this or
future generations.
American Labor Is High.
Not so many months ago the head
of a company operating a fleet of
ships under our flag, called at the
executive offices to discuss permit
to transfer his fleet of cargo vessels
! to a foreign flag. tho he meant to
continue them in a distinctly Ameri-
| can service. He based his request for
transfer on the allegation that by such
a transfer he could reduce his labor
profit on capital invested. I do not
vouch for the accuracy of the state
ment, nor mean to discuss it. The al
fusion is made to recall that in good
conscience congress has created by
law conditions surrounding labor on
American ships which shipping men
! the world over declare result in higher
costs Of operation under our flag. r
labor on American ships have been
esta blished. Merest justice suggests |
that when congress fixes these stan |
dards, it is fair to extend government |
competition is brought to the same |
high level. or until our shipping lines |
are so firmly established that they can |
face world competition alone.
Having discussed in detail the |
policy and provisions of the pending
nraVi0nSlV addressing HJnll I
I forebear repetition now. In indi- |
vfdual exchanges of opinion, not a |
lew in house or senate have expressed
personal sympathy with the purposes
of the bill, and then uttered a dis |
couraging doubt about the sentiment |
of their constituencies. 1t would be |
most discouraging if a measure of /
such transcending national import /
ance must have it's fate depend on geo
graphical, occupational, professional, |
or paratisan objections. Frankly, I |
think it loftier craftsmanship to sup
port and commend a policy designed |
to effect the larger good to the nation /
than merely to record the too hasty |
impressions of a constituency. Out of /
the harmoniZed aspirations, the fully
informed convictions, and the united /
efforts of all the people will come the
greater republic. Commercial emil
nence on the seas, ample agencies for
the promotion and carrying of our |
foreign commerce, and are of no less
Importance to the people of Missis-
sippi and the Missouri valley, the great
northwest and Rocky mountain states
than to the seaboard states and indus
trial communities building inland a
thousand miles or more. 1e
1T is a common cause with its bene-
fits commonly shared. When people
fail in the national viewpoint and live |
in the confines of community selfish-
ness or narrowness, the sun of this re-
public will have passed its meridian |
and our larger aspirations will shrivel
in the approaching twilight
Facts to Deal With.1ls-
But let us momentarily put aside
the aspirating and inspiring viewpoint.
The blunt. indisputable fact OF the
loss of fifty millions a year under gov
eminent operation remains; likewise
the fast diminishing capital account,
the enormous war expenditure, to
which we were forced because we had
not fittingly encouraged and bui!ded
as our commerce expanded in peace.
Here are facts to deal with, not fancies
wrought out of our political and eco
nomic disputes. The abolition of the
annual loss and the best salvage of the
capital account are of concern to all
the people.
1T is my firm belief that the COM
bined savings of operating losses and |
the protection of the capital account
thru more advantageous sales of our
war has built, or war-se- zed ships, be-
cause of the favoring policy which the l.
pending bill will estab lish, will more
=
government aid for twenty-five years
to come. l.
1T should be kept in mind that the
sum of five millions an
nually paid for the transportation of
ocean mails is no new expenditure. 1t
should be kept in mind that the loan
fund to encourage building is not new; II
it is the law already, enacted by the
essentially unanimous vote of con-
gress. 1t is only included in the pend
n n a n /
assure yhe eaxction of a. minimum in
terest rate by the government, where
as the existing law leaves the grant
of building loans subject to any fav-
oritisnl.
at should be kept in mind, also,
that there are assured limitations of
the government aid proposed. The
direct aid, with ocean carrying main
tanned at our present participation,
Will not reach twenty millions a year, O..
and the maximum direct aid, if our ,
is so promoted that we carry :
One-half our deep seas commerce, will :
not exceed thirty millions annually. n
At the very maximum of outlay we :
should be saving twenty millions of
our present annual operating loss. If
the maximum is ever reached, the
of our merchant marine '
will have been definitely recorded and
the governm ent-owned fleet Fortunate
~ liquidated. .
From this point of view IT is the !
simple inconstestabIe wisdom of
ousiness-Iike dealing to save all that (
IS possible Of the annual loss and avoid :
he millions sure to be lost to the gov :
srnment's capital account in sacrifice .
ng our fleet But there is a bigger.
broader. more inspiring viewpoint, a 4
patriotic viewpoint. I refer to the l
action of today, which n
pliers the only dependable promise
IF making our war time inheritance of
III 'ps the foundation of a great agency
IF commerce in peace and an added
fv of Sar-x-icn lie