Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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TUK v. H. s. dp:p,atp:r PA(iE ELEVEN (lecliaed until they have ceased to compete with other natious. The great seveu masted sailing- vessels, proudly flying the Stars and Stripes, that once dotted the seas, are no more. If one were to study the marine situation in the Port of Boston, he must be impressed by the fact, that all of the transatlantic freight traffic of this port sails under the British or the Norwegian flag. How many of us stop to think that since September, 1914, there has been only one transatlantic passenger sailing per month from the Port of Boston, and this under British registry. Add to this the fact, that fully one-tiiird of the .Ameri- can coast-wise traffic is likewise under the Union Jack, and we get some idea of what the situation of the American merchant marine will be, at the close of the European conflict, no matter how far distant. What are we to do when (ireat Britain sails her merchantmen to South America for wool, which will enable her to raise her war debt far more quickly than boots and shoes from Boston ? ' I ' his leads us directly to a most serious ])roblem, namely, the possession of South American trade. Great wealtli is liidden in the plains of South Amer- ica. Is American cai)ital going to rest serene, and see millions borne away from under its very linger tips for the want of a mei ' chant marine ' : The possibilities of an American merchant ma- rine under favorable laws are i)ractically limitless. Capital is perfectly free to buy merchantmen, and American shi])yards are as ready to build them. It only remains to settle the much discussed (luestion of government ownershi)). Government ownership has never proved a success, either in New Zealand, where the railroad, telei)hone, and telegraph lines are so con- trolled, or in this country, where the jtarcels ' post sys- tem has proved a distinct failure from a flnaucial stand- point. In closing we come face to face with the question, ' if conditions are so favorable for the establishment of a merchant marine, why has it not been attemjjted V Those of us who are wont to observe business condi- tions are doubtless aware that the crews of the majority of British and German freighters, touching at Boston, are composed chiefly of Orientals. Chinese labor is much cheaper than white labor since men rarely receive over ten dollars i)er mouth, and from this pay their living expenses, while the United States government provides for a minimum wage for sailors of twenty dollars per month and expenses. How can the Ameri- can shipper even contemplate competition against such odds? The government continues its abnoxious policy in the new Seaman ' s Bill, and rules that at least 75% of ' the crew of any vessel, touching at an American port, shall be able to understand an order s])oken by the master of the vessel. As a direct result, the Pacific Mail Steamshij) Company, the largest American ship- ping concern, which found Chinese labor at twenty dol- lars per month superior to the American labor avail- able on the Pacific coast, announces a dissolution and a cancellization of all sailings after November 1, 1915. Thus we hive a striking example of the hasty mad- ness, which has so materially hindered the revival of the merchant marine. Let us hope for speedy legisla- tion in favor of American shippers, if the L nited States would command a position of respect on the high seas. Geok(;k Buttkefikm), ' 15. THE PAHENT--TEACHERS ' MEETING N event new to Wakefield occurred Wednesday evening, IMay 19, when the teachers of the town, together with the parents and other friends of the S(diools, held in the town hall their first town-wide parent-teachers ' meeting. The music of the evening was furnished by a volun- teer orchestra and the Girls ' Glee Club of the High School, both under the direction of Mr. C. Albert Jones. The work done by the (ilee Club was particularly creditable and has received much favorable comment. The girls have anii»le cause to be proud of their ac- complishment and every reason to lv)ok forward with confidence to the futui ' e of their organization. Two speakers of prominence addressed the meeting. Dr. A. E. Winship, editor of the Journal of Education, and j [rs. W. L. Smith, state organizer of the National Parent-Teachers ' Association. Dr. Winshi]) made it clear that the schools could and sliouM serve the com- munity in much broader ways than at i)resent, and that the i arents and the general public should have a greater interest in the schools. As a means to this end he urged the formation here of an active parent-teachers ' organization. Mrs. Smith then sketched the history of the i)arent-teachers ' movement and ])resented the work of such organizations, particularly in this state. The addresses of the evening were followed by dis- cussion and questions, after which the meeting voted its approval of the parent-teachers ' movement, and also voted that the Superintendent of Schools, in con- junction with the principals of the schools not having such organizations, should appoint committees to aid in organizing these districts. As a result of the meeting there will prol)ably be in each school district, as there is now at (yreenwood, a lively parent-teachers ' organization. This will be a distinct step forward towards better things in Wakefield.

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pa(;e ten THE W. ir. S. DElJATEli with five or ten jioiuts to make up : ' We have been in the High School for four years. We understand it fairly well. We know that opportunities lost in school are lost forever. Ten points lost mean a lot of trouble at the end of the Senior year. As it is in school, so it will be in life. We who have learned say to you who are learniny do not let anything- get by you while you are in the Wakefield High School. If you improve your time here, you will be sure to improve it in later life. le- member that in nine cases out of ten, I don ' t know , and, l can ' t , are the result of i)ure laziness. ] e dili- gent, and improve your opjKjrtunities. We regret to announce that, because of lack of space, we have been obliged to omit from our columns an in- teresting letter from Editor Cade of The Tech News, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Cade, who is a graduate of the Wakefield High School, says the Poly- technic Institute is an ideal place for a young man. TiiK Dkhatkh congratulates Mr. Howe on the last fire drill, in whicli the building was cleared in the record breaking time of one minute and forty seconds witli- out noise or confusion. It has been said that the boys of Wakefield lack ini- tiative. This the Dkisatek feels to be untrue, and is a bit indignant that such a charge should have V)een made. Acts speak louder than words, boys, therefore, be forceful in the management of all your enterprises. I n the light of world events, it would seem wise for all human beings to ponder in their hearts the words found in a rare old Book, Thou shalt love thy neigh- bor as thyself. TnosK of us who were fortunate enough to liear Jerry Buckley ' s rendering of Robert Emmet ' s last speech will not soon forget it. VVe are sorry to lose Jerry from our ranks, but we are glad of tlu ' new op- portunity that has come to him. THE A MERICAN MEHCHANT MAHINE qv? qv? We congratulate the winners of the honor parts this year. All the members of the class feel tliat those so honored are the ones wiio deserve the honor. I ' or four years they have set a good example to their class- mates ; they have been good and cheerful friends and companions. Oil boys, if you would but work, you might shine likewise. THE situation of the American Merchant Marine, forty years before the Civil War, was one of !@li ascendency. It held sway over the commerce of the Western Hemisphere, thereby bestow- ing upon American shii)pers, a position of importance in foreign and domestic financial affairs. Practically every city on the Atlantic coast boasted a fleet of mer- chantmen, equal in number to a tenth of its male popu- lation, sailing under the American flag. These vessels were manned almost entirely by American citizens, to whom the time-honored customs of the high seas were a sufficient law. Such a merchant marine had been develoi)ed by the constantly increasing production of cotton in the South, and of manufactured goods in the North, which greatly exceeded the demand in this country. However, this condition of affairs was soon to be terminated by two causes, both vitally important to the United States : first, the Civil War, and second, the opjjression of American sailors. At the time of the Civil War, the American Navj consisted of a few poorly-armed vessels, which could not be cousidej ' ed as men-of-war. Consequently, the merchantmen of both North and South were com- mandeered by their respective governments, to engage in bl()(dvade duty, which determined tlie downfall of the Confederacy. So bitter was the struggle, that at the end of the war, only a mere fragment of the fleets of once prosperous merchantmen remained. Tlie causes of the second blow to our merchant marine, namely, the opi)ression of the sailors, were maiiy and varied. During the thirty years directly jtreceding lS50,the i)rofits which bad been deriveil from .American vessels in trade with Great Britain and tiie West Indies had been immediately re-invested in more ships until American shijjpers were overstocked witii merciiant- men, thus giving rise to keen competition. The fore- most siii]! owners, being well ecjuipped witii essels, ceased to re-invest their profits, but combined to form a corporation, for the i)uri)ose of i)utting an end to indi- vi lual ownership. This was soon followed by other combinations which precipitated the comj etition into a war for financial control. There could be hut one result. The comi)anies immediately began reducing exi)enses by diminishing the oi)erating costs. This led to such ojjpression of vXmerican sailors, that stringent laws were ])assed by the I ' lnted States government, which together with the ravages of the war (•omi lctely demoralized American shii)i)ing. Ill the fifty years that have elapsed since the close of the Civil War, the condition of .American shippers has

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PAGE TWELVE THE W. H. S. DEBATER HONOR PARTS Valedictorian GLADYS VVATKINS Salutatoriaii BARBARA RANDALL IIoiioi- I ' ait TIIEL.M A IJKIIXiE