The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-05-03
Significance. Possibly this Is the rea-
son why so much is heard nowadays
about fair trade and reciprocity.
EXPORT PRICES.
why Some Goods Are Sold Cheaper
Abroad than at Home.

ANY fool can ask questions, any
idiot can utter falsehood, and neither
the question nor the falsehood can be
answered without investigation, re-
curing sometimes much care and
time. For the past three months our
Free Traders have rung the changes
on the accusation that our manufacture
ers were selling their products abroad
at a much lower price than in the
home market. This accusation has
been made, as most Free Trade state
ments are. in general without any at
tempt at specific names or amounts.
The few instances of guesswork have
been so ridiculous as to deserve no no.
tice.
This question of export discounts
was thoroughly investigated ten years
ago. and we are no more afraid OF 1t
now than we were at that time, when
it proved to be the biggest kind OF
bugaboo. Until thorough investiga-
ton is made by a competent autho-
rized committee, with power to sum-
mon and question reliable witnesses,
no one can wholly affirm or deny
statements in general or in particular
In the meantime there are phases OF
the subject that will bear discussion
For the sake of argument let us sup
nose that our manufacturers DO as
pose abroad of their. surplus stock or
any of their stock at cut rates. Is THIS
not universal rule of trade? Does
not every merchant have his clear
ance sale?" Are not unseasonaDle ana
shopworn goods marked down below
COST" Are not stale and damaged
products sold away under regular
prices. frequently below cost OF pro-
duction? Is it anything rare for our
great stores to put a certain article
or articles on sale at or below actual
cost to attract customers, VINO VIII Duy
having articles in such quantities as
to make up for the small loss? TO IN
troduce a new product does not the
maker put it at very low price, OF,
in fact. give away samples at first, till
the people have proved its merits?
There is one firm in the state OF New
York which gave away last year over
900 900 sample bottles of medicine
Besides the cost of the medicine was
the cost of the bottles and postage and
the work of bottling, packing, snip
ping. addressing, etc, and yet that
firm charged fifty cents and 81 bottle
for the same medicine.
These are all fair and legitimate ex-
pedients of trade. If an American
manufacturer, in order to introduce
machine. or tool, or rail, or anything
else into new market, as an induce-
ment makes a special price or dis
count on a trial order, putting the
article at cost or perhaps below cost,
and being willing TO pocket his loss
for the sake of future trade and pro-
fits. is it anybodys business, ana
must he sell at the same price 10 MS
established trade, which would mean
that he would soon sell to no one at
any price? Certainly American labor,
the basis of all prosperity, is not the
loser by an operation which provides
increased employment in American
mills and factories.
Has any but blind Free Trader
anv idea that our manufacturers are
going to habitually sell their products
at a loss unless for some good trade
reason? These reasons are four, ana
no more: To get rid of surplus stock;
to get rid of undesirable stock (staie,
unreasonable, damaged or out OF date);
to introduce new goods; to Introduce
goods into a new market. So much
for the export price.
But Free Traders assert that Pro-
lection enables the manufactures TO
extort exorbitant prices at home far
in excess of what is a reasonable
profit. We do not need any investigat-
ing committee to settle this question
for lis Every man is capable of set
Ting it for himself And there is not
an honest man in any part of the
United States today but must ac-
knowledge that he can buy any and
every necessary thing cheaper, con-
sidering quantity and quality, than.
ever before in his life. 1t does not
matter if steel rails are little higher
If costs less to ride and less to send
freight on the railroad than ever be-
fore. 1t does not matter if structural
iron or wire nails are somewhat high
err. il costs no more to buy or rent
house. 1t does not matter If wool or
leather fuctuate in price; clothing
and shoes were never so reasonable in
price. The advertisements in the daily
papers prove this statement. Com
pare prices with those of five years
ago under Free Trade, with ten years
ago. with twenty years ago, with any
past year. and it will be found that
the same qualities of goods for wear or
use were never so cheap as now.
Why?
Our grand home market, built up
by Protection, makes such an enor-
nous demand that commodities are
turned out by the thousands instead
of the hundreds. No one will question
that thousand pairs of shoes can be
made per pair cheaper than a dozen
or a hundred pairs. That is why
everything is cheaper today, and that