Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15
BY THOMAS r.. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President Of the United
States.


States. go.
E"HE sorriest page in the history
of American economics Is that
page upon which Is written
the legislative will with ref
erence to the American merchant marine
and write this without criticism OF
Legislators or of the aims that actuated
them. Our efforts to build up merchant
marine failed until the world war came
on with its cry for "ships and ships and
still more ships" Now we have
magnificent fleet which we cannot
dispose of to advantage to the nation
nor maintain without a great annual
loss.
The government Of the United
States in relation to it's merchant
vessels Is not unlike a hungry man
holding a hot potato. who desires to
satisfy his hunger and build up his
strength but is inclined to drop the
food in order not to burn his fingers.
The government feels that the splen-
did fleet produced in war time must
be preserved as most desirable, yes,
q necessary. adjunct to the American
navy in the event OF a future war;
ever strong 1t may be in dread
naughts, battleships, cruisers. sub
chasers and auxiliary craft, Is hAndt-
capped unless 1t shall have a power
full merchant marine to be pressed
into service when war is declared.
The feet is most desirable and neces-
sary to transport our products In
peace and to back up our navy In
war. but the cost of operation Is so
great as to make the government
doubtful Of it's ability to stand the
losses. Thus the question. What
shall we do with our merchant ma
rine?" has become almost paramount
in Importance.
Many causes contributed to the
driving from the seas of such a mer-
chant marine as the United States
previously controlled. For one thing.
both business and government real
lied too late that the clipper-built
ships OF New England could not COM
pete with the steel-constructed.
steam driven vessels OF uniform size
that British shipyards were produc-
ing. Then the coastwise monopoly
lent aid and assistance to banishins
our ships from the seas of the world.
Finally, the La Toilette act made
american SnlpplnE next W iHiposSipic-
The world laughs at America because
OF its moneymaking instinct, but 1t
was Americas spirit Of humanitarian
ism that brought about enactment OF
the La Toilette law. which is the con-
trolling factor in the situation today
The law, wholly justifiable from the
viewpoints of morals and humanity.
places such restrictions in the way OF
personnel and equipment Of American
vessels as virtually to put them out
Of competition with vessels of other
countries whose shipping laws con-
tain no humane restrictions.
When the great war in Europe
came on, President Wilson realized
Americas need Of a merchant marine.
He asked Congress to pass the ship
bill OF 1915. and Congress refused.
Two years later. when the United
States entered the war. a demand for
ships was instantaneous all over
America More ships and still more
ships to convey food and supplies to
the allies, to transport our troops. to
back up our Navy. were demanded
and. of course. not an objection to the
spending OF billions Of dollars was
raised. None even now criticizes any
thing that was done under the cir
cumstances then extant. All that
man has he will give for his life. and
no one counts anything loss which is
given to save the republic from de-
struction or defeat.
x X x X
In a marvelously short period Of
time we built a most magnificent
merchant marine. 1t cost, perhaps,
the greatest amount Of money that
the world ever saw expended for such
purpose. But the expenditure was
worth while, even though the fleet
shall disappear from the seas. Even
though the loss should be total and
actual, the fleet was an object lesson
TO the world az to what America can
do and does when called on to act.