The New York herald., 1922-05-10


New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., May 0.
President Harding to-day announced
a renewal of leadership of his party
In Congress which was so successfully
applied in the recent fight over the
4 question of navy personnel.
This time the President declared his
supreme interest in the passage of the
merchant marine bill. which provides
a revolving fund of $32,000,000 for
maintenance and support of the Amer
lean merchant marine against foreign
/ competition. Every ouace OF strength
the Administration can summon to OBJ
tain the passage of the measure by
Congress will be exerted
The first step in the program was
4 taken tonight when President Har-
4 ding invited Republican leaders in both
4 House, following which the guests
A were told of actual conditions that sur
n round the merchant marine problem
4 in this country.
N
h and Wadsworth of New York, MEM
A bers of the Commerce Committee of
4 both bodies and individual leaders, in
cluding Representative Mondell, Re-
\ publican leader, and Chairman Ford
ney Of the Ways and Means Commit
4 tee. as we'll as Chairman Lasker of
| the Shipping Board and others.
\ In announcing the dinner the White
House made it clear that heretofore
| recommendations from the President
had not received the serious considera-
| ton that might have been given to
them. These messages, it was ex-
planned. have been regarded as per-
functory. The White House made it
equally evident that the object of th.S
conference was to make the attitude
! Of the Administration so clear there
J, would be no room for doubt the Admin
istration Is 100 per cent. in favor of
the measure giving Government aid to
| the upbuilding of American shipping.
OF Paramount Importance.
At no time in the history of the
United States has there been any issue
of so great Importance as the shipping
! program. it was officially explained.
Back of the Presidents interest in
the bill is the question of national de-
4 fense, which involves a merchant ma
rine. There is also connected the prob
lem of opening up avenues of American
4 trade without which 1t will be impos-
sible to restore American prosperity, the
Administration believes. either on the
farm or I'm organized business.
The difficulties the Administration has
experienced in handling its merchant
marine problem have not been entirely
domestic in character. Having invested
q large amount of money in shipping,
the Government was first confronted
with the difficulty OF getting the ship
ping business back into private owner
ship where II believes 1t belongs. The
next difficulty was of world origin. The
countries which have dominated the
commerce do not look with favor on the
building of an American merchant ma
rlne. Foreign shipping interests with
the backing of their governments are
determined there shall be no American
merchant marine. The Administration
is equally determined there will be a
revival of American shipping, and is
prepared to throw everything into the
scale TO bring this about.
The recent rate cuts which have been
announced arc but part of this plan to
wreck American shipping. which the
Presidents guests were told tonight
has assumed the proportions OF world
wide plot.
Above Partisan Politics.
The call Of Republican leaders was
explained on the ground the Admins
tration had hoped the subject of build
ing the American merchant marine
would be regarded as of such far reach
ing Importance 1t could be elevated
above the region of partisan politics.
In view of the inability to have the
subject considered from n non-partisan
view, the President Is determined to put
II through as a party measure.
Reports received by the President and
by members of Congress show generally
unanimous support throughout the coun-
try OF the proposed measure. The mid
die West has long been the center OF
opposition to anything that smacked OF
subsidy. Strangely enough, this section
Is said to be heartily in favor OF using
Government funds now, if necessary. to
build up American shipping. That Sec
tion, it was reported, is interested In
two things first, the upbuilding of an
American Merchant Marine and the
completion OF the st. Lawrence water
ways project. which the West believes
will give II access to deep sea transpor-
tation. This feeling Is reported to ex-
tend throughout the Mississippi Valley.
According to reports OF the Presi-
dents conference tonight Republican
leaders fitted in generally with the Pres
ident's ideas upon the Merchant Marine,
and the conference will be followed by
efforts in Congress to hasten action.