The labor world., 1922-12-30
BOYCOTT AMERICAN VESSELS.

ton and sentiment of the pOpulace,
who are expected to cheer every
mention of 1.-The Starry Banner on
the seven SEAS" "
There is no weeping or sentiment
when these ship subsidy advocates
figure how to grab government
owned vessels without cost: or when
steamship companies figure how the
immigration clause of the bill will
aid them. ~
Another brand of these patriots
shout for "a merchant marine While
they themselves have agreements
with foreign ship companies to carry
their export freight.
Thousands Of honest minded citi-
zens have been tricked by the two
faced policy of these ship subsidy
advocates,
These citizens are not aware that
this country's largest railroad sys-
TENS have been boycotting American
ships and pledging foreign ship COM
panies to aid them in securing car
goes.
These charges, backed by docu-
mentary evidence. were made in the
United States senate last year, by
Senator Ransdell of Louisiana and
Senator Jones of Washington.
The agreements link up great
railroad systems and their
with foreign ship COM
panies while American vessels rust
and rot waiting for cargoes.
Among the railroad systems in
volved are the Pennsylvania, Great
Northern, Boston & Albany (New
York CentraD, Norfolk & Western,
& Ohio, Southern, Bal
timore s, Ohio. Missouri Pacific,
Boston & Maine, and Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul. The latter road,
together with the Great Northern,
had their agreements with Japaaese
steamship companies.
Features of these agreements in
clude:
Free wharfage and use of ware
houses for the foreign ships.
Special piers set aside by railroads
for foreign. lines,
Exclusive and free use of facil;-
ties. 9. ..,..
Reduced, rateseof freight.
Railroads pledge to make every
reasonable, effort to secure the
amount, of freight required by for
eign ships. (This provision means
that the railroads will use their eco
nomic and banking power and influ-
ence to. secure freight cargoes for
foreign vessels as against vessels of
their own country.)
Pledges Of railroads to use their
influence to secure lower taxes for
foreign ships and to supply them
coal below market price.
1t should be borne in mind that
while these railroads were aiding
foreign ship owners to destroy the
American merchant marine, the rail-
roads were receiving vast sums from
the government because Of govern
ment operation Of the railroads dur
ing the war.
During all this time the railroads
themselves have stood with hat In
hand before congress and pleaded
for aid. r..
How can a subsidy offset such ad-
vantages these railroads give for
eign ships-free dockage, free
wharfs, free use Of facilities and re-
duced freight rates? ~ 81.
If railroad financiers of any other
nation on earth were caught in, such
transactions they would be held Up
to public scorn or banished from
their country.
What sincerity can be- placed on
the word of men who have hushed
up this matter while they plead
for government aid to a few priv
i1eged ship owners?
What can be said of the United
States shipping board when it SO
gingerly handles such outrageous
conduct by Americas leading finan-
ciers?, -. ~ = -
What can be said Of politicians
and newspaper editors who make nc
mention of this situation and whis.
per their ISLANDERS that foreign in,
fluences are behind those who op.
pose looting the treasury? ss :g
= 3