The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-11-13
LOSING FOREIGN TRADE.

the United states and the enterprise
and energy of the people, bringing to-
getheT for the first time IN the worlds
history the experience. krowledge and
power OF the peole of all nations. II Is
certainly not at all aston hing that
we should have done wonL rs in for
eigp trade in spite OF our n id rules
power OF the people of all nat ons II is
pointed out frequently that We have
succeeded because OF our tariff restric-
tions. when the truth Is we have sue.
ceeded in spite of them. Remarkable
advantages have told in our favor the
more readily because Of the fact that
our development came about after 9TH
er lands were crowded with people and
were left with comparatively few un-
used natural resources to depend up
on.
In time In spite OF any legislation to
prevent It. prices must seek a natural
level. just as water does. Already the
natural law OF economies is beginning
to assert itself in defiance of our great
gamblers In politics and in other liaes.
In a recent address In Wilmington. n.
c. Mr. Frank X. Vanderlip. formerly
assistant secretary Of the treasury,
now banker in New York. asserted
that the United States Is losing some
of its foreign trade. We must admit.
said Mr.. Yanderlip, that "the edge is
of Of our invasion of the foreign mar.
kets.' What IS the cause OF this de-
cline and Is the loss Of foreign trade
only temporary or will II be perma.
nent? The New York correspondent
of the Philadelphia Press, who has
been investigating the subject, says ex-
perts suspect that "one of the chief
causes Of the falling on in exports are
the high prices and the tendency to
higher prices which have been the
striking Characteristic of American in.
dustry for tho past eighteen months" "
why not? If prices In England or
Germany are lower down. once for all,
on the normal basis, and the people
do not find it necessary TO pay as
much for the necessaries Of life as we
pay. It must be clear that they can
afford to work for less than we and to
sell their manufactures lower than we
can afford to sell ours. An ordinary
school boy must see that this Is So
This is not all We are told that the
experts not only believe that the prev
alence of high prices Is costing the
United States a part of the nations
foreign trade. but they also intimate
that domestic business will also be
affected. It is said that the managers
Of some of the largest railroad corpo
rations fear that the increase in the
cost of living will cut down the traffic
Of the railroads. OF course, the reduc
ed domestic demand for steel may be
only temporary, but it is suspected
that the high prices which are charged
for almost all articles entering into
the construction of modern buildings
have acted as a check upon enterprise
Until very recently iron and steel man
ufacturers were embarrassed by the
excessive demand for their products
Now a reaction has set in and some OF
them are seeking business.
Whether 1t has already come to that
is not the main fact. The main fact
is that It is absolutely sure TO come to
that sooner or later. Il is enough to
repeat that finanoiers and captains OF
industry suggest that ii is well not To
ignore the significance Of certain. ten.
denoiesi in the manufacturing and com.
mercial world, and that they under
stand full we'll that the artificial stim-
ulant which has been poured into the
open mouths of infants" is quite sure
to lose in time its power 10 preserve
health. They know that law-made
prices will not last and realize already
the danger of the modern man who is
confined behind a Chinese wall by
shortsighted statesmen who pretend
that they are able thus to save him
frcm the world and make him happy.
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