BANQUET. 369 



the American merchant marine must the American shipyard look for future business, and 

 without an established merchant marine the a rt of shipbuilding in America will be lost. 



The total tonnag-e owned by the Government includes five million tons of as fine a ton- 

 nage as exists in the world which was created as a war condition, and its production is a 

 record of which our country will ever be proud. The purpose back of it was to build, as 

 expeditiously as possible, a bridge over the ocean to the battlefields of Europe. The pontoon 

 bridges which were put on the Marne have been destroyed and lost, but we glory in the part 

 played by ever)' man and every tool they handled. The pontoon bridge which we built to 

 cross the Atlantic, our great steel fleet, is still with us, and instead of that fleet disappearing, 

 as did the other tools of war, it should be our purpose and our inspiration, if we are to 

 assure America's prosperity in peace, and ensure her balanced strength in times of national 

 prosperity, that it be the nucleus of a merchant marine, enduring and lasting. (Applause.) 



This fleet is an unbalanced one, it is necessarily such because of the manner in which it 

 was built, and our government, and our people, if they are to ensure domestic prosperity, must 

 augment that fleet with the types that are needed. This cannot come merely through the 

 genius of America, as so many would have us believe— genius is not alone in America, proud 

 as we are of our country — it must come by the recognition of the inland dweller as well as the 

 coastal dweller that America must own its vehicles of transportation on the seas. Being new 

 and young, if we are to compete with the nations of the world, it must come through a govern- 

 mental policy, which must soon be arrived at or originated, for by such aid only will ship- 

 building and ship operation, an industry which is comparatively new and reborn with us, be 

 enabled to exist. (Applause.) This must mean education and recognition on the part of 

 our people in all parts of the country. With such aids and with our needs, none of us need 

 look but hopefully to the future, and it is within the coming year that America will undoubt- 

 edly be called on to decide whether or not in our generation we shall be restored to our proper 

 place on the sea, or whether once more the American flag shall retire practically to coastal 

 service. 



My hope and belief is that, and I can, in a measure, speak for the President, but I have 

 no right to speak for Congress — my hope and belief is that with the recognition of Congress, 

 our people will do that which is necessary to attract American capital, American genius, 

 American interest, to a merchant marine. Such is my hope and my prayer. Another year 

 we may know. (Great applause.) 



The Toastmaster : — Gentlemen, our cloud has a decidedly silver lining when the Chair- 

 man of the Shipping Board gives voice to such sentiments as we have just heard. We are 

 under great obligation to him for having come to us tonight, and for having expressed his 

 views in so terse and lucid and compelling a manner. I think we can begin to be optimistic 

 again. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your address. (Applause.) 



In these days we must not forget that America, during the last century, occupied a 

 most prominent place in the shipping world. At one time, in fact, she led the world in ship- 

 building and ship operation. We are fortunate in having present tonight a gentleman who 

 has been very closely identified with the development of the American merchant marine, prac- 

 tically throughout his life. He was closely associated with that prince of men, the first pres- 

 ident of this Society, the late Mr. Clement A. Griscom. He is now a colleague of the gentle- 

 man who has just spoken with such convincing prophecy. 



I have great pleasure in proposing the sentiment, "The Shipping Spirit of America," and 

 even greater pleasure in coupling with that sentiment the name of the Hon. E. C. Plummer, a 

 Commissioner of the U. S. Shipping Board. 



