The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-10
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE.
Effort to Improve Business Relations With
Foreign Countries.

Mayor Baxter has received the follow
ing letter which he will probably present
to the Board of Trade:
70 the Honorable Mayor City Of Port
land, Portland, Me-:
Dear Sir:-A movement is on foot and
arrangements have recently been greatly
advanced among number of enterpris-
ing business men. of a few cities, for 1.-The
purpose of formulating and adopting
some plan, or measure, that will facili-
tate and encourage more social and IN
! innate relation with the individual peo-
pie of foreign nations, to the END that we
may be the better enabled to Introduce
our products in q far more extensive
and profitable manner than ever hereto
fore attempted. This effort for an in
crease of our foreign commerce is not to
be in the interest of any particular line
of goods, or section of country, but for
all who may care TO avail themselves of
the opportunity to be offered
Our exporters have always had an up
hill road to travel in introducing their
wares in foreign countries, principally
for two reasons: First-Owing to the
very conservative and perhaps short
sighted policy of our government they
are compelled to stand an enormous ex-
pense individually. to become acquainted
before they can got the con fldence of
their prospective customers, and if sue
cessful in that direction the expense will
have already been SO great that it leaves
very small margin for profit on the
venture, to say nothing of the capital re-
quired to conduct such enterprises See-
ond-Individual effort can never be rs
effective as concerted action, and no mat
ter how strong financially the individual
may be, he can never hope to achieve
that success that is only attainable
through national movement. For these
reasons, if tor no other, the greater num-
Der of our leading manufacturers hesitate
to undertake foreign trade relations and
consequently only cater to a limited
home market which at times being over
stocked, the profit is necessarily small,
whereas if they possess the facilities to
dispose of portion of their products to
foreign nations both prices and output
would be satisfactorily increased.
The scope of this movement is to over
come, it possible, these obstacles, and to
SO organize those interested as to give it
the standing and dignity of a national
affair without asking Congressional assist
ance, feeling assured that to wait for such
aid the question will be as heretofore,
Indefinitely postponed
The financial means have already been
arranged for and the only question now
is, whether or not the business people of
uoh an opportunity.
Mr.. Frances B. Thurber, Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Commerce in
his report of October l. 1885,, to the New
York Cham Der of Commerce strikes the
key note when he says: 'sThus far our
increase in population and wealth in this
country has measurably kept consump-
ton on parity with prod uction, but evil
dences are not lacking that this state of
things cannot continue. If we would
keep step to the music of the times, and
keep our labor and capital remuneratively
employed, we must bear in mind the
wants of the other thirteen hundred and
seventy millions Of people who consti-
tute the population of the world-both
natural and creative or educational
wants. * y If we are true to our ira
ditions and appreciative OF our opportun-
tiles, the United States will lead the
world in the race for commercial suprem-
acy."
We do not now, neither do we intend
to ask dollar from you, we simply write
this with a view of interesting you in
this movement, to invoke your valuable
influence and cooperation and to solicit
from you any suggestions you may be
pleased to submit as to how we may
best reach the end in view.
Hoping this will meet a favorable
consideration and that we will be honored
with a prompt response, we are,
Very respectfully.
e. A. KEELING,
Temporary Secretary