Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-02
BEING DONE FOR SHIPPING

In all the Democratic criticism OF
the retiring chairman Of the Shipping
Board, there has been none Of the adj
vertising skill of Mr.. Lasker. His
reputation for that was generally ac-
knowledged before he undertook the
tremendous task Of whipping the at
fairs of the Board into shape. The
Government will profit handsomely
from one instance of the application
of his skill as an advertiser, what he
accomplished, in attracting the atten-
ton of the travelling public to the
Leyiathan. 1t is now said that Mr..
Farley, who succeeds him, has not
the knack of publicity. He has, how
ever, associates, one of whom at least
is capable of placing the merits OF
American shipping before the public
very effectively.
This refers to Commissioner z. c.
Plummer of Bath, whose efforts In
securing publicity for American ship
ping have been effectively employed
for years before he was called to the
service of the Shipping Board. Last
week he had occasion to impress on
the attention of people in the mid
West the idea that their business al
fairs are more intimately connected
with the success of American ship
ping than they seem to have been
aware.
Speaking before the Foreign Trade
convention at Cincinnati he reminded
them that the predictions Of year
ago have bcsl tesfeA by experience
and their accuracy established. He
quoted from British authorities: 1.-THE
Americans are pushing everywhere
in Brazil and Argentina. The Amer
leans control nearly 30 per cent. OF
the automobile trade in those coun-
tries, being able to give prompt de-
livery, which before the days OF the
Shipping Board was not possible. me
trade also built up between our Pacl-
fic coast ports and the ports on the
east coast of South America is OF in
crcasing volume. .+.
Commissioner Plummer called at
tcntion to the tonnage between Brit
ish ports and South Americas Last
Coast prior to the war. This exceed
ed the tonnage between England ana
Canada and the United States and
Caribbean ports combined. Ihls
shows how we were at that time ne
glecting our opportunities. Today
there are 124 vessels plying between
Great Britain and Brazil and ArEcn-
tina, while we are employing less
than half that number.
AS an illustration Of what free
trade England does to get business,
Mr.. plummer quoted from a recent
report Of the British. trade commits
sioner in New South Wales. saying:
"There is a very decided bias in fav-
or Of British goods and this is as
sisted by the preferential tariff. TINS
il public admission Of the discrim-
nation England shows, but which we
appcar to fear doing. In this way the
British secure to themselves 991 per
cent of their coasting trade. 81 per
cent. of all the inter-cmpire OCEAN
borne business and two-thirds OF the
trade between Great Britain and
other countries. British ships also do
nearly a third Of the ocean-carrying
business of independent nations. One
need 20 no further to become con-
WINGED America must make gteat
effort il she wishes to keep her flag
on the seas of commerce.
The speaker than referred to the
lower rates which American shippers
had secured by reason OF competition
which maintenance Of the merchant
marine secures for them. Not only
must there be such competition to Sc
cure for our shippers service and
suitable rates but Commissioner
Plummer believes it will be possible
for the Government to so manage the
fleet that everything considered the
losses will not be unjustifiable.