The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-22

den, HaTdinEs letter 70 Republican
Leader Mondel was Intended in part AT
least as warning 70 foreign countries
that a lobby against an American mer
chon, marine bill would not be to!er-
ated.
The Presidents ou.spoken charge
that foreign interests would like 20 see
America thwarted IN her efforts to es-
tah!!sh a merchant marine IS the f'rs;
pubnc reference to a propaganda which
has been constantly observed or the
au!et BY officials here ard which IN
pre-va- dars had been 20 small factor
N sque 'ch,TG governmental activity on
tho shipping question
Mr Harding speaks OF "weIl-screen :
cd source OF opposition 20 an outstand-
Ing and confident American course in
this matter" AMI boldly charges thar
no weu-developed maritime power OF
shn old world S. cravtnE. the develop
President admires the national spirit
which always htinks ~ the interests OF
the homeland first ne adds a warning
that Il goes too far. FOR ne says: Other
nations know the value OF sea-carrylns
as an adjunct OF 'radc. and the tnd!vid-
val dlscouragsnert abroad 70 our
u rthv aims-a dtsccura cement otter
lrs,dlousiy disseminated here--ouSht -
argue an American interest no longer tc
be ignored"
No Names Mentioned
The President didn't mention the
names OF any foreign countries nor ais
close the nature OF foreign opposition
20 the subsidy btli, but his use OF the
words 'Tnsidiouslv disseminated here"
are taken to refer 10 some or those
shipping companies mostly ot foreign
ownership which have In their employ
Americans who know how 10 marsha!
political Influence.
THIS isn't the firs, time foreign oppo-
s!tion 20 an American merchant marine
has been publicly referred TO as 'Insidi-
GUS" About twelve years ago. congress
discovered that German shipping COM
panles maintained a lobby In washing
ron for the express purpose OF prevent
inS the passage OF ship aid legislation.
Mr HardinSs pronouncemcnt 70
Leader Nondell Is coinc!dent also with
the speech made IN London within the
last twenty-tour hours by William J.
Love. vice president Of tho Emergency
Fleet Corporation. In which he issues a
plain warning that America was going
ahead with her plans for a merchant
marine by subsidy and would not be
swsrvcd from her course.
B-tttsh Apprshsnstve.
The British as tho largest maritime
power and the people who have been
most successful IN sea-carrytnG trade
IN the past are much more apPrehensive
about the rassage OF the ship subsidy
bill than any other nation. Before .ao
war. ships Of Great Britain ruled the
seas but divided the carrying trade In
large part with Germany. American
shtrptrr officials believe the United
States should not allow Great Britain
70 monopolizs the sea-trade especially
since Germany - without ships 20
carry the trade she had before the war.
even II she could restore Il tomorrow.
The opinion held IN American quar-
tsrs Is that thers Is plenty OF room In
the world for TWO maritime powers or
major size and that America. which
war. and ElNs freely OF her blood and
sought no territory or indemnity IN the
treasure should not b" begrudged the
uSs OF her immense war ficet FOR peace
time purposes
The British have taken over most o.
the, German ships as payment for war
damages and would ike the United
StAteS TO become discouraged on the
merchant marine question and sell the
ships a. auction. lnasmu"h "a Nmeri-
can pr!vat" operators insist they can
not compete with foreign ships with
r1Ir A subsidy the sale oC Americas
in tonnage and S"a.t-ade 70 foreign
countries and since 'i-eat Britain IS
rinsrCtallv able 70 buv more ships IN"
~harCes are sale Of American ships
would mean tho ult!WIt" passage "t rh~
tn-erlraa war Tee; INFO Er'tish NnnNS
The war Angie.
TNl- rrcrr than anything else ts re-
-norethle for the sarrestpesS and deter
rTinat!on ot President Harding 10 get
sh!p subsldy hiN through "ongreBs.
There is also ths s>cnntar,- through b.
NJ means un!mportant qusst!sn Of hav.
tA= Il nA<ehant GsSt that could es ussd