Show OUR MERCHANT MARINE by PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT A AN AMERICAN merchant marine I 1 is one of our most firmly establish est established ablis lied traditions it was during the first farst half of our national existence a great and growing asset since ne e tb then ain it t has declan ed in value and aej importance the te time has come to square tills ard traditional ideal with effective performance free competition among the nations in the building of modern shipping facilities cilito cili ties es Is a manifest manifestation kion of wholly desirable and wholesome national ambition in such free competition the american people want us to be proper ly represented the american people want to use american ships their goy government erdmen t 4 owes it to them to make certain that hat such nuell ships are in keeping with our our national pride and national needs |