The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-31
VIEWS OF A DEMOCRATIC
EXPORTER

Mr.. Curtis, of the Chicago Record Herald,
recently called the attention of an exporter
in New York doing large business, and an
out-and-out Democrat in politics, to the
statement of Representative Griggs that he
had been unable to obtain the price lists of
American goods from exporters even for
money, because they feared to have it
known in this country how greatly the
prices are reduced for foreigners. The
Democratic exporter listened to what Mr.
Curtis said. "Who is this Mr.. Griggs?" the
exporter asked. When informed that he is
a representative in Congress from Georgia
the exporter said:
Well, you can tell him for me that he's
blankety-blank fool and doesn't know what
he's talking about. If he will come to my
office will pass him copies of my confiden-
tial price lists as long as his hundred-dOllar
bills hold out / don't think the clerks and
messenger boys in my place saw his adver-
uSements, or they would have been glad to
supply him with a library of confidential
price lists. We issue one every week and
print several thousand copies of each,
which are mailed to our customers all over
the world in open envelopes. Some firms
same purpose. Griggs can get a ton of
them any day if he will take trip among
evidently
doesn't know anything about the foreign
trade.
In answer to the question. How much do
the trusts affect our foreign trader" the
exporter declared that in all manufactures
the combinations have made all the foreign
trade we have. 1t costs a great deal of
money to build up foreign trade, and the
individual manufacturer could not bear the
| expense. but the consultations are able
to meet It. The result is that the combina-
tons went into the foreign field and what
is called the American invasion began.
When asked about the sale Of tariff-pro-
tected goods abroad at lower prices than
| those asked for the same articles at home,
the exporter replied:
That depends entirely upon circumstances
Sometimes IL happens and sometimes il
| does not. IL depends upon the condition OF
/ a dry goods store wants TO get rid OF lot
/ OF stock on his shelves 10 make room for
/ new stuff he throws IL on the bargain coun-
ter. doesn't he. and sells it for whatever he
/ can get? IL he gets the cost price he is
| lucky, isn't he? Well. that trick is otter
/ played In the foreign trade When we have
4 surplus of any particular article for
/ which the demand is decreasing we shin il
/ to the most favorable foreign market and
| sell il for whatever it will bring That is
/ evidently one Of the surprising phenomena
/ Mr.. Griggs has discovered. Another is
/ probably an ancient custom OF regulating
| prices to meet competition. When we are
| selling shoes or iron or confectionery I'm g
| certain market we have got to regulate oui
| prices TO meet competition, and il often oc
| ours that we have TO sell our goods for les:
| than they cost us TO hold our customers Il
| we did that sort of thing regularly il would
| bust US, OF course, but every merchan
| knows all about it. Certain patented ar
| ticles. like bicycles. sewing machines, agri
! cultural machinery, kOdaks and othe
| things that will occur TO you. are sold IL
| this country at fixed prices. Here the trad,
! can be controlled. and the price is the sam,
| at all points. under all circumstance
| Abroad il is different. Prices cannot b,
| maintained I'm foreign countries and IL i
| often possible TO get an American sewinl
| machine bicycle or moving machin,
| cheaper in England or in France than il
the United States, but that is due TO tn
| patent laws and not 10 the tariff
The exporter said that the chief reason
why sewing machines and agricultural ma
chinery are sold for lower prices abroa,
than at home is because they are second