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United States Merchant Marine : conditions surrounding American pri- ‘vately owned ocean-going shipping im- proved during the year 1925. With reasonable unanimity of opinion among _ real American shipping men as to the nature and extent of the difficulties that are retarding the growth of the merchant marine, the improvement would have been still more marked. It is inconceivable that a great rich powerful nation fronting on two oceans, and the chief participant in the world’s trade, should not have a merchant marine of its own. Such a marine must come through economic pressure. What are the arguments quoted against that possibility? Simply that since we have such wonderful natural _ re- sources and have grown so prosperous and have raised our standard of living to so high a point, it is impossible to attract our better young men to the sea; that higher costs of building and operating ships make it impossible to compete; that other nations are so. situated that shipping means their very existence and that we should therefore let them enjoy undisturbed their position on the sea. *) HOPE To SEE THE DAY WHEN AMERICAN PASSENGER SHIPS ARE SEEN JN “THESE FOREIGN PORTS” e carrier. AMERICAN PASSENGER SHIPS EZ Must Have a But these arguments do not hold in an economic way. We are not striving to become the great common carrier on the seas. On the other hand, we have so much at stake that we cannot help being seriously disturbed by knowing that we are completely at the mercy of any foreign ocean It is this state of mind, whether know- ingly or not, that is at the very foundation of a legitimate and justifiable hope for a future mer- chant marine. And it has had its effect in keep- ing American ships on strategic routes. In the extent of voy- age, size of ship and all other seagoing experi- ences the domestic coast- wise and __intercoastal trade has all the stand- ing of overseas shipping except that it is pro- Teday an American can travel under hie own Aag all over the world in splendidly operated ships. Reprinted from the Chicago Tribune 1d tected. This trade and all domestic shipping must grow with the country to far greater proportions than is realized. At the same time there will be a continuous steady and persistent increase’ in participation in the for- eign carrying trade. Government ship lines established and operated at a loss where necessary, have blazed the way and when sold to private indi- viduals, will have accom- *) HOPE UNCLE SAM KEEPS THAT FLAG FLYING OVER OUR OWN SHIPS “ REGARDLESS OF THE EXPENSE AND IN SPITE OF THE INFLUENCES THAT ARE TRYING TO @. “DiscovRAGE HIM ~ eee OMG NEON