Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-12-01
SHIP SUBSIDY
PLUTOCRACY USES UNDERHAND
METHODS TO PASS BILL
The Subsidized Press Remains Silent
Regarding the Proposed Plans of
Foisting This Gigantic Iniq-
uity Upon a Long Suff-
ering Public

The ship subsidy bill is one of the
biggest gold bricks the American peo
pie were ever called upon to buy.
The subsidy campaign has been
based on everything but education.
The supporters of this measure have
made no attempt to discuss it.. In
stead they howl for merchant ma
rine and infer that every one who op-
poses lOoting the treasury by ship
owners is against merchant marine.
This bombast and buster is in
tended to sweep the people off their
feet. 1t is hysteria campaign, with
every 100 per cent American on the
band wagon. 1t was the same system
used when the Cummins-Esch bill was
iammed through congress.
The leader in this campaign is
Chairman Lasker of the shipping
board. He is selling" subsidy by the
same whoop la methods he would con-
duct selling" campaign for chew
In opposing the bill the minority
of the house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries states that Chair
man Lasker is giving wide publicity
to his prepared statement at the hear
ings, which he read, "but it is signifi-
cant that he is omitting the cross
examination of himself upon such
statement"
The minority report also refers to
letters by representative of shipping
interests who advised subsidy ad-
vOcates to send in written statements
to the committee, rather than appear
in person, "as this method will also
prevent cross-eXamination aof wit
nesses."
Of the 28 witnesses who appeared
before the committee in favor of the
bill, nine represented the shipping
board, nine represented private ship
ping interests, and all others, with
possibly two OF three exceptions, did
so at the instance of the shipping
board or shipping interests, says the
minority committee.
Subsidy opponents made such a
strong case against the bill that the
majority report of the house commit
tee, while favoring the bill, makes this
acknowledgment:
"a permanent and healthy mer-
chant marine can never be established
merely by paying subsidies"
The public is not aware of this
statement by the majority members of
the house committee. The press,
which resents being referred to
subsidized" makes no mention of
this statement that strikes at the
foundation of the subsidy principle.
Instead, newspapers are screeching
that healthy merchant marine is not
possible without a subsidy.
Another important fact concealed
from the public is that excepting
France none of the European mari
time nations subsidize their merchant
ships. England has not used the SUBJ
sidy for 800 years. That country only
pays for carrying mail as does the
United States. Japan is the second
maritime country that susidizes it's
ships.
The subsidy is vicious proposal.
No bill was ever presented to congress
that was backed by such incorrect
statements, such hysteria and exag
geration, such appeals for unstable
patriotism, such possibilities for loot
and such power to minor department
of governmental shipping board.
The bill should be-and will be-
defeated.
It's one hope is in a congress that
has been repudiated by the people.