The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-25
Evangels of Commerce.

The National Association Of Manu-
facturers, now holding it's fourth an
nual session in Cincinnati, is good IL
lustration of the adaptability of the
American people to new conditions. 1t
was called into existence by recogni"
tion of the fact that an export trade
requires more in its building up than
consular reports and long-distance
talk. The gentlemen behind this enter
prise. in reviewing the foreign fields
which held invitations to American en-
trance, perceived very early that de-
tailed study of foreign markets was
essential if headway was to be made
in trade extension. Hence they set
forth to make such a study and to fol-
low it up by a judicious display of
samples Of their OWE manufacture.
In 1856, in accepting the office of
president Of the assocation-a position
yet held by him with signal ability
Theodore G. Search of Philadelphia,
sounded the bugle note of a general ad"
vance by saying: Il believe that we
manufacturers ought at this time to
cease standing on the defensive. What
we need is a policy of aggression that
Is sufficient to maintain our principles
conduct our own business and keep
us in friendly relation with the world
at large. Only let us have that cour-
age to meet all these questions open
handed and open hearted on fair field,
and we shall push the industry and
business of this nation all over the
world This adds the Philadelphia
Ledger, has been the keynote of his
policy from the beginning. the cxten-
sion of trade, and what this organiza-
tlon, in common with other influences
Of like aim, has attained in this direc-
tion is abundantly shown in the recent
export statistics of the country. Ii can
truthfully be said that the National
Association Of Manufacturers has not
been the least Of these influences which
have been at work to effect this ereo +
economic transformation in the United
States"
The same paper thus reviews the
most notable achievements of this or
sahlZatloL during the four years of its
existence: "A commercial mission ia
South America, a mission to japan and
the establishment of a sample ware
house in Caracas, Venezuela. The mis-
sion to South America was undertaken
in 1886 by members of the association.
A number of manufacturers, represent
ing different lines OF trade, made IN a
party which was abroad for several
months. They first went to England,
and there embarked for the River
Plate, travelling through the Argen-
tine, Uruguay and Brazil, afterwards
making reports upon the subject for the
benefit of the association. The mission
10 Japan was in charge of Robert T.
Porter, superintendent of the census
He also made a report upon the in
dustrial advances in and the CONNER
cial possibilities of the field which he
visited The Caracas sample warehouse
is an important enterprise, acting un-
der a direct concession from the Ven-
ezuelan government A large buildlnC
has been secured in the central part
Oh lne ' venezuelan capital, and here
samples Of the goods manufactured by
the members of the association are ex-
posed. 1t is. in fact a permanent ex-
position of American manufactured
merchandise, open to the public OF
Venezuela, who may visit it when they
like. and forward their orders to the
firms direct or through the medium OF
the management locally in charge The
warehouse was opened last spring in
the presence Of President Andrade, OF
Venezuela, his ministers and many of
the leading people of the city, together
with a considerable party of Amcri-
cans. It is expected that this viii be
but the first of a chain of warehouses
to be established by the association
In foreign countries" The work of the
association very obviously is only IN
its infancy, but the field opening be-
fore it will be a continual inspiration
and the results viii constitute an am
pie reward