Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-26
TIE DUMPING" POLICY
AZ Prevents Depression and Keeps.
Our Workingmen EMPLOYED.

"ur WorkinGmen EMPLOYED.
democratic writers and speakers fire.
quently try 70 make political capital By
claiming That the protective tariff is re-
eponsihle for the fact that our exporters
III some cases sell their merchandise at
less than prices charged in the home
market.
Ii Is the very root Of success in all
commercial ventures to hold what Won
have and gain what you can. and this
Is the same in all highly advanced COM
mercial nations. including England where
free trade prevails. Whenever n manu-
facturer has produced more goods than
he can dispose of in the home market.
without disastrously affecting prices il
is always good business policy for him TO.
try to get rid Of his surplus abroad rath-
er than TO reduce his output and Incl
dentaly the number of men he employs
and the wages he pays them. This
dumping policy. as the Democrats call
it, has again and again served to pre-
vent depression in our home markets and
has saved millions of dollars in wages
10 American workingmen. 1t is infinite
~ better that the foreigner should occa-
si0nally get goods cheaper than they
can be bought at home. rather than not
have snch surplus sold at ell. and Ameri-
can mills be forced into idleness and
American workingmen into serious loss
in wages.
How British manufacturers pursue
this dumping policy just the same as
American manufacturers will do when
the necessity arises. is shown in recent
consular reports. (See circular No. 2067,
Department of Commerce and Labor.)
Samuel NJ Taylor, L. S. Consul at Glas-
gov, Scotland. says:
Manufactured steel for export is sold for
, TO 10 per cent less than for domestic use,
ana even at Il greater reduction. In other
words, the cost of transportation to foreign
countries where competition is brisk is
largely assumed by the British exporter or
manufacturer by means of this reduction
Even England is treated rs foreign by the
Scotch manufacturer and gets reductions
accordingly. The Scotch manufacturer
neither expects nor receives the same profit
ON his exports to foreign countries that he
obtains at home. In Scotland a combina-
tton Of prices exists which fixes the prices
Of steel plate for the whole of Scotland and
gives the members Of the combination
power to sell in other districts than Scot
land, at whatever prices they choose. I
may mention In this connection that an
American sewing machine company, which,
in addition to having large works In the
United States, has works in Scotland suffl-
ciert to supply the European trade. makes
manufactured in Great Britain than Amer
lean consumers pay for those manufactured
In the United States
Rufus Fleming. L. S. Consul at Edin-
bUgh, Scotland. says:
1t is the policy OF British manufacturers
to maintain prices in the home market at
the highest possible level and to make what
ever concessions may be necessary In for
ei@n markets At all times. even when
general trade conditions at home and abroad
are excellent it is the rule, in British in
dustry. to quote lower prices to foreign buy.
erS than to the average domestic trader.
The difference in favor Of the foreigner or
exporter ranges from to per cent. /
have seen invoices of a British firm Of steel
wire manufactures to German buyers In
which the prices were fully 20ia per cent
lower than the prices quoted to home Gus
toners. This reduction was not due to an
extraordinary surplus, but principally TO a
determination to put a certain line of goods
into competitive markets, In most trades
the one fixed purpose Is not to reduce
prices to British customers until forced to
do so,
\ prominent brewer, an eX-member of
Parliament, said:
have been dumping ale and beer on for
eign markets all my life, whenever have
had a surplus Practically every manufag-
tufer in this country sells his goods abroad
for the best price they will bring wi en-
his stock is too heavy to be unloaded at
home I'm n reasonable time, without break
ing the market
James Boyle. T. S. Consul at Liver
pool, England, says:
The most interesting instance Of dumping
in this Consular district of which | have
knowledge was that of Drummer. MOnd &
Co. chemical manufacturers of Northwich,
Cheshire. The products involved Were soda
ash and hicarhonate of soda. II a dis
tnct policy of this firm to sell their prod
GctS on the American market at Il rate
which not only undercut the American
product. but was less than the price In Eng
lish markets. This went on for some time
until the firm effected an arrangement with
parties, both American and foreign inter
psted in the sale of chemicals in the United
States and then. as | am Informed, became
part owners In chemical factories In SYRIA
cuse. " ", and In Michigan. l believe 1t
is true. even now, that occasionally certain
chemicals, and particularly hicarhonate of
soda produced in this neghborhOod are
sold cheaper In the United States than in
this market. | am Informed that certain
other manufacturers. like the well-known
firm of Nettefolds (Limitedl of Birming-
ham, which makes iron and brass and
wooden screws, often sell abroad cheaper
than at home.
II. Clay Evans, Consul General at
London. England says II find that man
ufacturers here endeavor to maintain
home markets. but when they can find
a foreign market, they will bid for it.
get it if they can without too great a
loss. and thus increase the demand for
their output and reduce the cost Of pro-
duction without demoralizing home