The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-11
growth OF the movement first started by the
Travellers Protective Association
MEL SON AAIENDAIEn-r

growth OF the movement first started by the
Travellers Protective Association
NELSON AMENDMENT.
THE Nelson amendment brings upon the
federal statute books the principle that the
federal government shall exercise constitu-
tional powers 10 control and restrain COM
binations in trade that are 10 the detriment
of public policy and individual rights. Thus
this great measure. which had its genesis
in the councils OF the Travellers Protective
Association, and whose Introduction into
Congress was witnessed by the national
legislative committee OF this association IN
1886, were also present on Feb. I. 1893. seven
years after, TO see their Efforts rewarded
by the passage OF the measure they had
fought for so long. for we realized we had
taken step forward in the great worlds
field of commerce upon which we are now
entering as nation. To the rapid and I'M
interrupted growth OF the United States
and the development Of her industries Is
ascrloed the new Department OF Commerce
and Labor. The Department OF Commerce
will have the unique distinction of dealing
with the largest commercial interests In the
world.
1.-The new department will have a double
part TO play. On the one hand IL will be its
province 10 keep our manufacturers and ex-
porters Informed 10 conditions abroad.
and the special requisites for obtaining the
largest possible share of the worlds trade.
On the other hand. IL will be able TO direct
ganda in foreign countries for making
known the distinctive merits of our wares.
AN important subdepartment under the
Department OF Commerce Will be the Blu
tined. / think. TO become one OF the most
valuable aids to the development OF OR in
dustries Ii should not. TO my mind. be a
mere machine for the manufacture Of sta
tistics, but should be an active agency for
the promotion Of commerce. The different
ways in which IL can be made useful will
dor Of cFrfff
cient imaginative faculty TO grasp the pos
sibility of American trade development.
1.-The creation of the Department of Com
merce has awakened great interest in the
other countries. and especially In the
mother country. where our active but
friendly rivalry in the worlds markets is a
subject Of much concern, and the appoint
ment OF a minister of commerce for the
United Kingdom is being urged. In view OF
our great progress and development IN
manufacturing industries, which now Tar
exceed our ability TO supply our own wants.
and in view of the urgent necessity OF Sc
curing more extensive markets abroad. IL
must be apparent TO any one who gives the
subject the least thought that there was
an urgent demand for the establishment or
a department OF the public service TO have
charge of and to aid our Industrial develop
ment and to secure US better and more ex-
tensive markets abroad. Most OF the other
great nations of the world have a DEPART
ment Of this character.
''The enactment of this bill will place the
exporting manufacturers or this country on
an equal footing with their foreign COM
petitors. in so far as the cost OF raw ma
terials is concerned. and by enabling them
to increase their export trade will give adj
ditional employment TO American labor and
in some instances render IL unnecessary for
American manufacturers to establish
branch factories in foreign countries. Your
committee also assisted in trying TO secure
the passage of the Lodge bill. which refers
to our consular service reform.
EXCESS OF PRODUCTION.
be face to face again with heavy excess
of production. and il we would not then see
many of our factories idle and our labor
only partly employed we must in the mean
time make wider and deeper the export
channels. which alone can relieve US OF the
surplusage. Our endeavors to do this SO
far are almost wholly parochial and in
conclusive, for the reason that we have had
no national pivot of action. With de-
partment of the federal government special
ly equipped for guiding our export activities
and setting the example In itself OF concen-
tration and directness of effort, we ought
now to be able to exert the full force of our
undoubted capabilities In international COM
petition.
I'm domestic exports, i'm transportation
and in internal commerce the United States
| is at the head of the worlds list of great
nations. Figures just compiled by the
| Treasury Bureau Of Statistics. which by the
new law becomes a part of the Department
of Commerce, estimates the internal COM
me ,s, Oh ,h ane country a. , Syoocv or
of the world
"Our association should place itself on
record and pledge it's effort in securing the
passage of any measure which seeks to re-
| strict immigration, for the greatest and
| gravest question confronting the American
| people to-day is that of unrestricted immi-
| gration-for the safeguards In operation are
| so insignificant as TO be almost unworthy
| of consideration. The very scum OF the
| world is pouring in upon us from southern
| Europe In a constant and ever-growing
| stream. which threatens-and that within a
! few years-to undermine the very founda-
| tons Of a government built upon individual
| liberty and intelligence. The figures are
startling. The facts are such as TO warrant
| the gravest concern as TO the future. Some
| drastic measures will have TO be put into
| operation very speedily will find our
| selves contending with a problem the most
| serious and hopeless in our history"