Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-05-26
GREAT NE RCHANT
MARINE IS VITAL
President SO Informs the Com
merce Convention Delegates.
IN PLEA FOR SUBSIDY BILL
Believes Great Worlds War Would
Have Been Avoided Had United
States Possessed Large
Commercial Fleet.

Washington, May 19.-Pleading for
the development of an adequate mer-
chant marine in an address before the
convention of the United States Cham-
Der of Commerce. President Harding
expressed the belief that the World
war could have been averted If the
United States had possessed a mer-
chant fleet commensurate with It's po-
sition in the world.
II am glad to come to you because
1t is merchant marine day on your pro-
gram" the President said. There Is
not one constructive thought in the
mind of the administration at the pres
ent time that takes rank over a desire
to firmly and successfully establish an
American merchant marine. do not
know of any nation In the world that
ever maintained eminence in trade tn at
was not eminent as a carrier OF
trade"
The President called attention to the
vast ship tonnage owned by the gov
eminent at the close of the war, max
ing it necessary for the government to
go into the commercial shipping busi-
ness.
Urges Aid for Ship Subsidy.
"Now," he said, 1--WE are asking con-
gress to give us a merchant marine
law that will serve to take the govern
ment out of the marine business"
The President urged the Chamber of
Commerce to support the ship subsidy
plan now pending in congress, the pro-
visions of which were explained to the
convention earlier in the day by Chair
man Lasker of the shipping board.
Chairman A. d. Lasker of the ship
ping board asked American business
men to help the administration place
the American merchant marine on a
parity with that of Great Britain
through the establishment of govern
ment subsidy.
Lasker dwelt upon the problems con-
fronting the shipping board in provid-
ing facilities for carrying the overseas
commerce of the United States and in
liquidating the fleet which the govern
ment now owns.
Because of the 5-5-3 naval ratio es-
tablished by the Washington arma-
ment conference, Lasker said it was
necessary for the United States to
maintain large merchant fleet in or
der to have equal naval power with
Great Britain.
An adequate merchant marine is
also necessary, Lasker said, for the
United States to compete with other
maritime nations for the undevelOped
markets of the world. He called at.
tention to 1900 ships of 100000 tons
which the United States owned at the
close of the war, and said these YES
sells were now being operated by the
government at an annual loss of $50
100000.
Most of Ships Tied Up.
"Of its 1.500 steel ships, the govern
ment has LOO tied up" Lasker said.
-Four hundred of the governments
ships are today covering practically
every trade route in the world. But
American shipping is being killed in
the borning.
'"The shipping board is operating
under a law which contemplated that
the government would operate the
ships until trade routes were estab-
lished and private ownership should
take it over. But the very carrying
out Of the law defeated it's own pur-
pose. Private owners wither and die
under the competition of government
operation Of ships; there would be
very few successful operators who
could take them over, because thew
would have been killed under the
bHghting competition of the unending
funds the treasury belches forth to
back the enterprise"
Lasker said his experience as chair
man of the shipping board had taught
him government ownership and opera
ton Of ships was as poison ivy In the
garden of industry"