New-York tribune., 1922-11-22
Arguments of Opposition
Dissecied by President as
He Asks Congress TO
Consider Nations Needs
Points Necessity
OF Ships i'm War
$4,000, 900 Yearly Gut
inpresent Losses Shown
in Executives Address
BY Carter Field

WAS6lNGION, NOV. 2ls---PTeSl
dent Harding to-day, personally ad
dressing the extra session OF Con
ress convened for consideration o
tie merchant marine question, strucl
guarely at the Determined opposi
ton" to his plan to keep the Ameri
ear flag on the seas.
In what Is considered by most o.
his auditors the best address he has
ret delivered to Congress the Presi
dent frankly acknowledged the argu
neats made against the bill and me-
Aem, one by one. Without mention
ing the word "demagogue," the Pres
dent smashed vigorously into the at
tseks made by "those who prefer t,
appeal to mistaken prejudice rather
4 than make frank and logical argu
q nent."
q While the President was arrang
s ing to address the joint session thu
81 Administration merchant marine bill
q vitb amendments adopted YESTERDAY
q was reported out by the House Mer
y chant Marine Committee without 6
4 record vote.
Present Cost $50,Oo0, 900 Year
4 Some Of the strong points made by
4 tts President in his address are:
i.Tae loss through gov
snnsat operation is about s50,0oo,-
Il Msysar at the present time. with
# 40 5epeh h sight of curtailing it uns.
4 sss tie merchant fna.ane bf1i IS
d passed
II 2 The cost Of the merchant marine
q blu which would end this annual
S less, would be from $2o,000,0o0 to
d aO0O,000. It would reach the
higher ar.ount only if this country
carried cne-half of it's freight in it's
own bottoms.
B. II the bill is not passed there
viii be a constant loss from the
wearing out of ships now owned by
the government, with final result in
waste of the $4,000 100000 spent TO
construct the feet now entitled to
fly the American flag.
A. If aid is not given the merchant
marine the grim necessity which
compelled the expenditure of $4,000,
100000 to acquire ships in the last
var may occur again, as there will
Ie no American merchant ships
hich can be commandeered.
3. Federal add to shipping would
"a perfectly IN line with Federal aid
a road building, in extending credits
20 farmers, in deepening rivers and
'hany other lines in which the Fed
erai government has assisted locally,
out really for the benefit of the
whole country.
Meets Eye Of La Toilette
Glancing up from his manuscript t.
meet the hostile e-u of Robert Nj. l.;
foi ette, one of the bitterest opponent
OF the ship subsidy bill and who is nov
engaged IN trying to make defeat o
thst measure the first objective of th
rcgresslve-radical-f bloc, the Pres
ident referred to the increased cost o
operation Of American ships due L
standards fixed by Congress.
While he did not mention it every on
N the hall knew he meant the La Fol
lette's seamen's bill, which is more gen
orally blamed for the increased wag
eost OF operating ships under tn
american flag than any other on
element.
I frankly rejoice" the Presiden
SAD, while La Toilette scowled up fror
his seat almost directly in front of tn
4 Chief Executive, ''if higher standard
Tor labor n american ships have bee
established"
There was slight pause by tn
speaker, and then:
Merest justice suggests that whe'
congress fixes these standards it is fai
. extend government aid in maintain
ag them until cur shipping lines age 8
stialy estab ished that they can fac
sosld competition alone"
applause followed this statement. |
sasfSed but one ether feature of tn
as3ident's address relating to tn
astchant ma inc. This was when tn
question of building Up the merchan
aAsine by Federal aid, continuing
gs4asr losses as at present or scut
aing, said:
ti.l aaye come to urge the construc
s.s s Ate native, to reassert an Ameri
el We eEill.'"
B. Members Hostile
Seldom has any President found /,
@oes aose trying aud ence than he en-
sf.asered f.sasered to-day. The Democrats
q perfunctory handelapping wi eI
asaateree. g. quiet during the entire
ssss Their silent opposition, how
ss,. ss' was overshadowed by that of tn;
wss. adical progressive bloc members
Agse bitter opposition could be fell
"a af up as the press gallery.
.vss ss result was that the applause
ssS Sa an waen the President first entered
ana slser he concluded, was weaker
sssb M more scattering than almost any
ss.s demonstration ever attending the
sacfsp ps OF positive declaration o.
Csn.se Csae by President addressing
rhar was very general applause
eresi.. ne alluded to greater farm
dres. towards the end of his sd,
out the two outbursts following
scon'Inuea oa paso thres,
ea---i2;{5 Midnight y,.reo. so-,,,e