Evening star., 1922-03-03
PRESIDENT Backed
ON SHIP SUBSIDY

.ss.,
National Merchant Marine
Association Opens Conven-
ton With Promising Outlook.
Senator Joseph E. Ransdell Of Lou
isiana- in opening the annual conven-
tion of the National Merchant Marine
Association, at the Washington Hotel
today, pledged himself to stand by
the general principles contained in
President Harding's recent ship sub
sidy address to Congress.
Chairman Albert d. Lasker of the
United States Shipping Board assured
the convention that he felt sure he
could say for the President that
nothing happier for this important
enterprise could occur than that such
a distinguished democratic senator
should so express his support" Sem
ator Ransdell is president of the ma
rine association.
"I cannot believe that this meas
ure, so essential to the success of the
merchant marine of our country, is
going to be opposed by any apprecia-
Bile number of congressman because
they are opposed to A subsidy" Sen
ator Ransdell declared, asserting it
will be Impossible for the United
States to maintain her Navy on Il
parity with that of Great Britain un-
less she maintains strong merchant
marine.
Fleet Prcsident's Ambition.
Chairman Lasker declared that
America has now reached a place in
her national life when a merchant
marine is "a vital organ" in her life.
and that it was in this realization
that President Harding went before
Congress.
after President Harding was nomi-
mated he visited him, and the
President-elect then told him:
My great ambition is to go into
history as the President in whose
administration the American mer-
seven seas"
I'VE all know that everything that
can be done to prevent the establish
lnent of the American merchant
marine will be done by those
interested in foreign ships Chair
man Lasker warned the convention.
following an outline of the indirect
and direct aids proposed in the Jones
merchant marine measure.
Il am not criticizing the foreign
ers" Mr.. Lasker continued. But as
Americans We must not fall for it.
Foreigners would not do 1t if they
did not know it is potentially pos
sible for US to have a merchant
marine.
I'VE say. Here is a definite condi-
tion-here is definite remedy proposed.
If anybody denies them, let them pre-
sent a better plan
But don't offer us merely the old plea
of the genius of America for the sea.
We have no more call to the sea than
other nations, nor any less. 1t isn't
genius. but it is a practical matter in
financial mathematics
Decisive Moment Here.
I'VE aaye reached the position where
America is about to decide if she will
be insular or occupy tine place destiny
seems to have made for her. If she is
to occupy the place destiny marks out
for her now, she must put her house
in order to occupy the place. If we
blunder, the opportunity will pass. and
the action will bring down on US the
curse OF our children to w.lom We viii
have denied these opportunities"
Chairman Lasker backed up a previ-
Gus statement by Senator Ransdell
that the work of the Shipping Board
in advising the President on the mer-
chant marine was absolutely of an
bipartisan nature. Each member of
the board was inspired by the belief.
Mr.. Lasker said, that the merchant
marine problem is IAN all-American
problem"
ITO peace-time carriage a merchant
marine Is necessary. AS to it's need
from a naval standpoint there can be
no divided opinion" Mr.. Lasker as
owns is absolutely unbalanced. he
said. outlining various indirect means
sabsidS. so nslP the feet IS we'l as the direct
Objections Being Wiped Out.
Income tax relief and immigration.
Mr.. Lasker said. are as important as
the direct subsidy itself He took
up the objecsions to the subsidy and
declared that the world war had
largely wiped objections from the
middle west, where objection in the
past had been most rampant.
IT have heard of American off,
cials going to Europe on French and
italian ships as a compliment but
have never heard of citizens of
those countries travelling on Ameri-
can ships as a compliment" Mr. Las
ker declared.
The history of Hawaii and Porto Rico
under coastwiSe laws. he said, ''giv4s
the lie to those who oppose section q
Of the subsidy hill to make the Philip
pines coastwise."
In regard to financial clauses of the
Jones bill. Mr.. Lasker said the Shipping
Board is merely asking that I'VE be per-
mitted to expedite realization so that
funds may be available to give work to
shipyards. where SO soreiy needed"
The two-day convention was opened
with prayer by Capt. Evan T. Scott
chaplain, L. S. n.
Addresses Delivered.
Business and Legislation was the
subject of an address by Representa- :
tive Frank d. Scott of Michigan.
Other addresses delivered at the morn
ing session were Some Current Con-
siderations in American Shipping" by
W. Averill Hartman. chairman of the
board of the American Ship and Com
merce Corporation: Government Aid
Stevenson Taylor of the American
bureau of shipping: Marine Insur-
ance," by Prof S, S. Huebner of the
University of Pennsylvania, and The
Middle West and the Merchant
Marine" by Malcolm Stewart Of the
middle west merchant marine COM
mittee.
Mr.. Stewart said he believed in the
Jones bill, and said it is rightly said
that the bill "is the magma charta OF
. the American merchant marine" Prof
ance is the bodyguard of commerce.
Mr. TaylOr said that the United States