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VAT ETT M I 2 ( i OE I ee A rae, Ie |) her eel Lee eee eT p <-2e saets ne IN \ Wy) J | i At Vic 32, Sa BI US FREE ee RR PAO ORCS Ae eRe eae ND ETRE TN Te a PRE Sen eT OH Ee tem een Te NON NE u ee ne OR NTT MTU A VOL. 49 CLEVELAND MARCH, 1919 NEW YORK No. Are Developments of Past Few Months Disclose Need of a Clear Shipping Program, Widely Understood and Actively Pushed NITY of desire may occasionally defeat its days of the war, the national educational campaign own objective. In such cases the absence of carried on to develop our shipbuilding resources as an active opposition fails to stimulate a struggle a necessary measure for winning the war, have all for accomplishment with the result that the objective resulted in stimulating an interest in maritime affairs. 2 is obtained only after long delay or is lost entirely. It would be a colossal blunder to permit this new- : Conditions in the merchant marine industry, in- born interest to disappear without any constructive i cluding shipbuilding, shipping and foreign trade, re- effort to turn it to good use. 4 veal the presence of such a danger which, if un- checked, may lead to a negative or even disastrous result. Little or no argument can be provoked in any circle with regard to the advantage to the United States of possessing its own means of carrying its commerce. The feeling that such freedom from the whims of foreign shipowners is at least a national advantage if not a national necessity, is so universal that the mere statement carries its own proof. The absence of any opposing viewpoint is quite likely to dull the national effort to secure such freedom of ocean commerce. Fitting Old Ship With a New Rudder In plain words, this question of a merchant marine needs the individual attention and consideration of every American. A national policy on shipping affairs has not been worked out in this country for a half century or more, although during the same period internal expansion was developed to a degree which brought the United States to the rank of industrial leader of the> world. The explanation for our failure to attain equally satisfying results with our shipping is familiar—our energies were con- centrated on developing our own resources to supply the rapidly broadening demands of a growing nation. A more favorable time for constructive study of this. national problem has .never been offered the present generation. The typical farmer from Kan- sas, who was ignorant of the part played by ocean transportation in his individual fortunes, has learned differently. Congestion at American ports with its consequent slowing down of industries far in the interior, the temporary food embargo in the early 117 A study of the progress made since the signing of the armistice is far from encouraging. Operators of American ships are disturbed by the policy fol- lowed by the shipping board in allocating vessels, returning requisitioned ships and in revising the ocean rate fabric. The board’s actions have been censured both as indicating a mistake in policy and as revealing | a lack of policy. Shipbuilders suffer from the un- _ certainty caused by plans for revising the federal ship construction program, and the tardiness in permitting acceptance of orders for new ships from foreign owners. Exporters have witnessed a decline j in trade or its loss to British competitors. A Costly Lesson Quickly Forgotten Events of recent months reveal that peace caught the nation napping. Apparently we have failed to prepare for peace in the same manner that we failed to prepare for war. England was surprised by war but was ready for peace. Advices from England show clearly the strong belief held there that America is ignorant of how to build up and operate a merchant marine and that England’s position as commercial mistress of the seas is not seriously threatened. Correction of present conditions of » uncertainty depend entirely upon the development of construc- tive policies. Legislators are either indifferent or are ignorant of what is necessary. The national in- terest in shipping should not be allowed to die from malnutrition. Today’s need is for the presentation to congress and to the public by those best informed on the subject, of clearly defined policies, quickly but thoroughly worked out and vigorously supported. Fy Pee ET Se Bes en es ae a a