The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-25
AN IMPORTANT CONVENTION.

The fifth annual convention of the Ma
tional Manufacturers Association met
yesterday in Boston, and win remain in
session three days At no time in the
history Of the country have American
manufacturers been so prosperous as they
are at present. They are having no trou-
BILE 10 find q market for their products
The whole world is their market and the
demand for what they produce is greater
than their output.
There was time, not very long ago,when
they found 1t difficult to compete, in any
line of manufacturing. with the manu-
facturers of Europe. This was owing
to the cheaper labor of European coun-
tries. American ingenuity. however, has
overcome this obstacle. While the wages
of American workmen have not been re-
duced the products Of American factories
have been so cheapened that European
manufacturers no longer have the advant-
age in the matter of prices This is ow-
ing 20 the introduction of labor saving
machinery.
IL is true that European manufacturers
have also availed themselves of the bene-
fits of labor saving machinery, but in Eu-
rope there Is not as great ability for
inventing machinery as there is in this
country and not as great skill in using
machinery in manufacturing. Conse-
quently, notwithstanding the fact that
wages of operatives are lower in Europe
than here, the United States lead the
world in manufacturing.
And the use of machinery in manufac-
turing has not had the effect of throw
ing a large number of workmen out of
employment. on the contrary, the indus
trial field for toilers has become so great
that no honest seeker for employment
need be idle. At the present time there
are very few, if any, idle workmen
The increase in the exports of American
manufactures has been so great as TO
attract the attention of the whole world.
In 1921 the total value of the exports of
all kinds from the United States was $43.-
81, 1874 OF this sum only 1923, OF was for
manufactures. In 1860 che total value of
annual exports had risen to 1916, 242. 421. OF
this amount s4O,S45S92 represented manu-
features. In 1880 the value of exports
of manufactures was $1O2 S5O,015, while the
| In 1899 the value of all exports was 81, 203,
931, 1922 and of exports of manufactures
| 1898. SIS, 55S.
II will be seen from these figures that
the increase in exports has been enor-
| nous, and that the percentage of manu-
features in total exports has more than
doubled In 1921 the exports of manu-
features were 1888 per cent. of the total
exports. In 1899 they were 2S.13 per cent.
No better evidence is needed of the re-
markable growth of the manufacturing
interests of this country, or that the
United States are gradually capturing the
markets of the world for manufactured
| goods.
| The convention Of the National Associa-
| ton of Manufacturers Is certain to be an
| interesting and profitable one. Manufac-
| turers seem to think that the present
| period of prosperity will be quite long
one. There are no signs yet that q
period of business and industrial depres.
| sion is close at hand. The factories OF
nearly every kind of manufacturing are
| being run on full time, and have orders
sufficient TO keep them busy throughout
| the summer.