Evening star., 1927-04-20
D. A. R. HEARS PLEA
FOR TRADE FLEET
Gen. Dalton Tells Delegates
America Must Hold Place
in Commerce.

America must answer the challenge
to hold it's place in world trade by
building merchant fleet "uneQualed
in type and speed on the high seas
Brig. Gen. A. G. Dalton, president Of
the United States Merchant Fleet
Corporation, declared today before the
Thirty-sixth Continental Congress of
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton, in warning that without an
Efficient merchant marine no nation
can maintain an efficient navy" He
coupled with this plea of the D. A. r.
to urge their Representatives in Con-
gress to support merchant marine
Legislation.
Revealing to the 1000 delegates that
the United Staes is lamentably lack
ing in passenger and cargo vessels,
Ge. Dalton assehted "a challenge has
gone forth to America to the effect
that we cannot build and maintain.
as a successful business enterprise,
an American flag merchant marine.
Challenge Must be Answered.
This challenge to America" the
speaker declared as the delegates
burst into prolonged applause, must
be answered"
Gen. Dalton emphasized the vital
Importance to the country in meeting
foreign competition with an American
merchant marine second to none, as
stressed by President Coolidge in his
message to Congress.
''It is essential he said, "that
America seriously consider at this
time the building of a new American
merchant marine of vessels unequal
ed in type and speed on the high
seas, so that our merchant fleet
can hold its place by sheer merit In
the face of foreign competition on
every essential trade route, and prove
its value as a national asset through
the character of the service 1t can
render to our people,"
Appeal Stirs Audience.
Stirring the great audience with his
apepal, Gen. Dalton declared, 1T is
only necessary that the same mihtant
spirit that has characterized our peo-
pie since the birth of our Nation arise
to meet the present national need.
Americas resourcefulness and dynamic
energy has never failed in any line of
industrial effort.
l'"To assure adequate national securi-
ty for the United States" Gen. Dalton
added, consideration must be given
not only to providing an adequate
Navy and an efficient Army, but also
to all those great industrial enter
prises which are essential to provide
the material resources upon which our
people must rely for their prosperity
in peace, their maintenance in war and
upon which will depend the success of
''The United States has developed a
great domestic transportation system
unequaled in the world today. Our
people and our Congress have, how
ever, failed to provide for that final
vital link in a great national transpor-
tation system that is essential to main
tain our commercial prosperity, and
provide for our national security-an
American flag merchant marine COM
mensurate with the volume Of our
overseas carrying trade, and suitable
in type and design to constitute an eff
ficient naval auxiliary.
Summarizes Important Factors.
1.-THE formulation Of a program for
the building of this merchant marine
fleet that can be carried to an early
and successful completion can no
longer be delayed unless we are to
lose all the advantages which we
have gained during the past six years
of the costly pioneering effort made
by the Shipping Board to establish
our merchant flag upon the trade
routes that are vital to the prosperity
of our Nation"
In summarizing the factors Of pri..
mary Importance in formulating andiI
making this new merchant marine
program effective, Gen. Dalton said:
1--WE must revise our merchant
marine act of 1916-20 and reaffirm our
policy with regard to the American
merchant marine in such a way as
to serve definite notice to all nations
that it is the intent and purpose of
the people of the United States to
maintain national merchant marine
that will be commensurate with the
volume of our overseas traffic and in
keeping with the commanding place
that the United States must maintain
in international commerce"
Reports Growth of Magazine.
Reporting on the steadfast growth
of the D. A. r. magazine, Mrs. Julius
Y. Talmadge of Georgia, national
chairman of the magazine committee,
announced new campaign slogan,
Our Magazine in Every d. A. r.
Home
"Our president general" she report
ed, lis thoroughly in sympathy with
our magazine and has assisted the
committee all through the year. speak
ing in it's behalf at State conferences
and meetings of all kinds, and by her
encouragement and cooperation in all |
projects we have undertaken, has |
most generously offered four splendid |
prizes for this years subscription con-
test" The first prize Is SIS in gold, |
awarded to the chapter securing the |
largest net gain in subscriptions, pro- |
rated as to membership. The second |
prize is $50 in gold and the third and |
fourth prizes, $50 and $40 in gold, re- |
spectiyely, all given under the same |
conditions.
A total of 1902 subscriptions were |
received last year in similar contest, |
Mrs. Talmadge explained. giving the |
magazine subscription list today of |
more than 1880. The prizes were two |
chairs in the new Constitution Hall. |
one given by the four national vice |
chairmen, Miss Anne Lang, Mrs. l.. |
Victor Seydel, Mrs. Andrew Hickam /
kCQptlpusd on Page s ColuHa -