Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-26
TRADE WAR PROBABLE
European Powers are W orkine in
Harmony to Recover Trade
Prestige.
They Pretend Friendship. But
Secretly Regard America as
a Foe.
Commercial Supremacy Of the
United States Feared by the
Nations.

washington, Aug. 70. - Wh1le, OF
course, there is no official concert of ac-
ton, it is becoming more and more APP
are preparing for simultaneous attack
upon the United States. This warfare
with which the new century opens is
entirely commercial, but is none the
less dangerous.
For several Years past reports have
come from different countries, all show
ing that the European governments
We're becoming seriously alarmed at the
rapid strides taken by the United States
toward the commercial supremacy of
the world The state department is en-
tirely without official information of
any determination on the part of for
eign governments to inaugurate COM
mercial warfare with the United States,
except in few isolated cases, like that
of Russia, where the retaliation was os-
tensibly against specific discrimination
by the United States.
Ordinary inquiries at the state de-
partment are met with the invariable
response that while the people of Eu-
their old markets invaded by the mer-
camille and manufacturing interests of
the United States, our relations with
those countries are SO cordial as to pre-
vent anything more than a friendly ri
yalry for trade The facts are, however,
that in the files of the state department
themselves may be found the evidence
of general disposition on the part of
measures to stay the hitherto irresisti-.
BILE march of the United States toward
the control of the world market.
Careful. study of the consular reports
during the last year will show almost
conclusively that European nations are
proceeding along lines which seem to
indicate not only bitter commercial hos
Utility to the United States, but re-
markable sameness of procedure which
can scarcely be coincidence
Repressive and retaliatory legislation
is being urged in almost all the conti-
mental countries, and the methods
adopted to cripple the trade of the
United States are so closely allied as to
lead to the conclusion that there must
exist some sort of a secret understand
ing on this subject between the conti-
mental nations.
The state department denies vigorous
lily all knowledge of any such European
commercial policy directed against the
| United States. The officials say that
each nation for itself is considering
commercial legislation to meet the ruin
Gus competition of the United States,
just as this country adopted the pro-
tective tariff system to protect our
| manufacturers against European COM
4 petition.
| The department announces officially
\ that there is no evidence of any com
| mon understanding hostile TO the
United States. but the published consul
| lar reports show that commercial legis-
lation is being nodded in the different
! countries of Europe. so much in accord
ance with an apparent general plan as
To indicate that this is from design and
\ not from accident.
4 The extraordinary commercial pros
perty of the United States has rendered
i ii necessary for our merchants and
/ manufacturers to seek an export mar
ket. So long as this country confined its
! exports almost exclusively to agricul-
tural products the statesmen OF Europe
4 and the people as Wen. We're not
alarmed They were perfectly willing
that this country should become the
granary of the world, leaving to them
the more profitable trade in textiles and
iron manufactures. They saw an eco
nomical advantage in securing cheap
food for their workmen, which. OF
course, assisted in maintaining CHEAP
labor.
1t is only in the last half dozen years
that the United States began to ex-
port its manufactured goods to large
extent The Hamburg Fremdenblat'
last winter voiced the prevailing alarm
in Europe when it called attention to
the fact that, while in 1890 only II pc,
cent of the total exports of the United
States were the products of manufac-
turing industries. the manufactured ex-
ports rose to 90 per cent In 1895. TO q
per cert In 1898, and to 81 per cent Ii
, 1900.
This means that at the present time
one third of the exports OF the UniteC
States are made up of the products OF
manufacture.
1t is this which has alarmed Europe
which has stirred up Germany to an ex
traordinary degree, and which has in
duced even Great Britain to consider
radical modification Of traditionary fret
trade policies.
{ This natural fear of the United State.
, as a potent factor In the commerce o
the world has induced European states
) men to lend ear to the demands of tn,
!, Agrarians and of the small shopkeep
| ers.
i Efforts are now being made, secretl,
i of course, to unite Europe in tariff
war with the United States. The re
r ports of our trained consuls abroat
!, show this fact. and the similarity o
: proposed legislation in the differen
countries is sufficient evidence of tn
I existence of an informal but none tn
. less effective secret understanding hos
tile to the commercial interests of tn
United States.
During 1902 and 1903 many CONNER
cial treaties negotiated between the diff
!. ferent European nations will expire b.
g limitation When it comes to the re
II casting of those treaties it is believe,
: conditions will be inserted which vii
: tend to harmonic the interests o
4 Europe as against the United States
Then for the first time there will ap
e pear the concert of action which no,
8 can be ascertained only by making
: comparison of proposed legislation 4
i different countries.
e The negotiation Of reciprocity treatie