OCR Text |
Show BENSON BARES HIDDEN ENEMIES Foreign Influence Seeks to Hurt Development of U. S. Merchant Marine CHICAGO, 111. Oct- 16. Hidden behind Corporate names, there are Americans "basking in tn. favor foreign shipping interests" who are creating the Impression that the ships area menace to the nation. Chairman Benson of the shipping board I. lari d lasl night In a message read b; rep- n , I K....l at Ihn dinner hidi opened merchant marine week. SI ( RI l N VT1VES "Plain speech harms onlv those who are afraid of the truth." the h airman Bald. "What American worth his salt will stand up In public and say our merchant marine is a menace to this nation or any other nation, vet we find men hid behind corporate names and j organizations who have the audacity i to create such an impression. But when you tear off the mask you find j that these same men are basking In the favor of foreign shipping interests' or have hopes In that direction. Now and then their efforts to muddy the j waters succeed to the extent of influ-encing influ-encing honest opinion against the ship-, ping board's policy, which alms to up-' build a permanent merchant marine The magnitude of the country's of-1 fort In the world shipping miv seem1 I to spell disaster, to other nations, the j I message said, but it should not as1 I America was onl- taking up the slack1 In shipping brought about during tho war bv the work of the submarine BRITISH SHOl I n WORRY "Those who worry most about our' entrance into ocean commerce must be our cousins ov erseas the British." Chairman Benson's message asserted. "For many centuries the mistress of the seas, she carried the message of commercial advancement. But it is essential es-sential that the vvorld should understand under-stand that We, who fully appreciate the service rendered by other nations are now ship-independent in the development de-velopment of our occ-n carrying trade We mean to play our part In manly American fashion and have done so I from the start "Gladly do I pledge myself to help isee that not only my own but oth r igovernments be brought to a point .where they fullv agree to retire from ocean carriage which only could mean uneven competition with the private owner Wc are endeavoring to do this as quickly as possible and the law de-I de-I mands it " |