The Labor World

BOYCOTT AMERICAN VESSELS

Publicly, the ship subsidy advocate weeps salty tears for America's merchant marine.

Privately, there is no weeping among these hard-boiled. Their tears are for public notice, to incite emotion and sentiment of the populace, who are expected to cheer every mention of "the Starry Banner on the seven seas."

There is no weeping or sentiment when these ship subsidy advocates figure how to grab government-owned vessels without cost; or when steamship companies figure how the immigration clause of the bill will aid them.

Another brand of these patriots shout for "a merchant marine" while they themselves have agreements with foreign ship companies to carry their export freight.

Thousands of honest-minded citizens have been tricked by the two-faced policy of these ship subsidy advocates.

These citizens are not aware that this country's largest railroad systems have been boycotting American ships and pledging foreign ship companies to aid them in securing cargoes.

These charges, backed by documentary evidence, were made in the United States senate last year, by Senator Ransdell of Louisiana and Senator Jones of Washington.

The agreements link up great American railroad systems and their subsidiaries with foreign ship companies while American vessels rust and rot waiting for cargoes.

Among the railroad systems involved are the Pennsylvania, Great Northern, Boston & Albany (New York Central), Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake & Ohio, Southern, Baltimore & Ohio, Missouri Pacific. Boston & Maine, and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. The latter road, together with the Great Northern, had their agreements with Japanese steamship companies.

Features of these agreements include:

Free wharfage and use of warehouses for the foreign ships.

Special piers set aside by railroads for foreign lines.

Exclusive and free use of facilities.

Reduced rates of freight.

Railroads pledge to make every reasonable effort to secure the amount of freight required by foreign ships. (This provision means that the railroads will use their economic and banking power and influence to secure freight cargoes for foreign vessels as against vessels of their own country.)

Pledges of railroads to use their influence to secure lower taxes for foreign ships and to supply them coal below market price.

It should be borne in mind that while these railroads were aiding foreign ship owners to destroy the American merchant marine, the railroads were receiving vast sums from the government because of government operation of the railroads during the war.

During all this time the railroads themselves have stood with hat in hand before congress and pleaded for aid.

How can a subsidy offset such advantages these railroads give foreign ships--free dockage, free wharfs, free use of facilities and reduced freight rates?

If railroad financiers of any other nation on earth were caught in such transactions they would be held up to public scorn or banished from their country.

What sincerity can be placed on the word of men who have hushed up this matter while they plead for government aid to a few privileged ship owners?

What can be said of the United States shipping board when it so gingerly handles such outrageous conduct by America's leading financiers?

What can be said of politicians and newspaper editors who make no mention of this situation and whisper their slanders that foreign influences are behind those who oppose looting the treasury?