Victory worker. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1942-1943, 1943-08-20
American Merchant Ma rine is Born

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One of the first of the Congress the new
United States needing the pleas of George Washington
enactment of which would protect and
Ian American Merchant Marine Thomas jefferson arguing
house resolution first presented what well known
THAT shipping by essential to American industry and
economic balance and that the merchant vessel in time of
the very of successful navy and expedonary
Operations
| Recognition On The Sea
Blood spilled before nation fought its way
recognition the against tremendous odds Our Mer
chant Men, with unbelievable courage, the way TO
Survival and then prosperity The hardy Yanks with char
actersc tenacy began their with noble tradition
Clearing the political decks they forth argoses loaded
with skins furs and lumber In return they brought back
iron the Islands, moasses sugar mohogany and too
often slaves From the East tea silk camphor and
calico.
Congress aided by building three great ships among them
the worthy and beloved Constitution. But America
banded westward and the whale trade brought fabulous
prices business men, then turned their attention
to greater profit negecting Eng
land and Scotland built reliable engines and iron hus join
ing their fleets with transcontinental railroads
Then the cruel between the states sitting trade
and into slump of twenty years. The awakening
CT Congress to the need of building the Panama Canal
red Merchant Men, but tonnage had dwnded to
tenth of Engands and half of Norways France and
Germanys .......
Plans For Foreign Trade Expansion
Patterns laid expanse of foreign trade but before
tev were put into successful operation the World
War nterruptng their progress After the Congress
appropriated hundred and twenty-five million dollars in
revolving Shipping Board and though the
increased it not enough for competition with
foreign lines and the jurisdiction of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation passed into private hands. 80:
President Roosevelt with his broad vision set in motion
agencies which planned national and finally Con-
es 1885, scrapped all existing agencies and created the
United States Maritime Commission. firm foundation
required closely allied with the entire problem the
defense of country.
America Now Greatest Export Nation
Surveys revealed that America is the greatest export
ton world and exceeded only by England in imports
found that woefuy few private were capable
Of proceeding their financial setups Acting
these findings the Maritime Commission established twenty
three trade routes studied items of import and export con-
sidered designs of ships and began expansion.
Merchant Marine Essential to Navy
1t was no easy job Disputes between Labor and
management time minimum wage scales decent work
ing conditions and vacations put into effect There had
adequate training for personnel except the hard
school experience with rghtfu cost of life and property
Wide provisions up to attract young intelligent
ambitious men to training services and the policy firmly
tabshed that the Merchant Marine is essential to the Navy
When the broke major adjustments were necessary
for long before Harbor the situation well in hand
1t is not to find the public thinking of the Mer
chant Marine of emergency this erroneous The
program providing for bottoms to operate in normal peace
time is growing before. The Merchant Marine is
not owned by the government it is governmentay aided
under regulations by international law and other
among nations Credit for its success must be
shared with private companies who labored constantly in
spite of public apathy.
American Merchant Marine Will Exceed Other Nations
No nation today equals the u S. in tonnage shown by
shipping Military regulations forbid figures but
is undisputabe American Merchant Marine will e
coed that any other nation at the end of the The
praseworthy cooperation of the nations shpyards with
their countless workers perform Impossible to
ure
Merchant Marine All Out For America
America realizes that merchant marine is permanent
institution that is important in war and peace as The
army and navy marines and air force that military force
coordnaed equals baeshps merchant ships bases troops
and planes The Merchant Marine is all out for the u S.
with pride and courage.
Il vUyUD n a AHhN SEATTIE's FINEST "a