An American Merchant Marine

     Ocean transportation has always been an important question for American merchant marine. Our country was driven to construct a vast fleet of ships regardless of cost, of time, or of economy; regardless, in fact, of everything save the imperative necessity of somehow keeping our commerce going; and with the return of (comparatively) peaceful conditions we must now provide for the future of the war-time shipping left on the hands of the federal government. The task is no easy one. Upon the wisdom with which the problem is solved will depend the future of our American merchant marine. Deep-sea commerce is an activity that cannot be successfully administered by politicians, nor protected by national legislation. Mercantile tonnage may be run at a loss for a certain time, but not permanently; for ultimately the cost will be pronounced prohibitive.

Every ship, like man, her maker, is mortal. She has her little day of service and goes to the scrap-heap or to " Davy Jones." The ship is, broadly speaking, replaced only if her operation has shown a profit ; and this will, in the long run, prove as true under government as under private direction. Whether our government retains its fleet under political control or sells it, the continuance of the American flag on the high seas will depend upon successful competition with the merchant fleets of other nations.

It should not be assumed offhand that an American merchant marine is assured merely because our government now owns a multitude of more or less seaworthy ships. If a workable plan can be evolved for selecting and employing those ships that are suitable for the inevitable competition, and if the plan be executed by intelligent experience untrammeled by political meddling, the American merchant marine is here to stay. And if not not.

The fate of our existing merchant fleet is to be determined in the period that lies immediately before us. Not only must our shipping be managed and operated by those whose ability and experience may qualify them to compete with the English and the Scandinavians, who are maritime nations; but our new legislation must be undertaken in the realization that American owners, builders, operators, and managers will have to meet barehanded the severest and widest competition, and can succeed only by excelling. In other pursuits a nation may remain intrenched behind its tariff barriers; but the merchant marine must sally forth to meet all comers on the open sea, where its right to survive must be determined by the processes of economic selection.