The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-14
STANDPATTERS AIDED IN
TARIFF CONTROVERSY
HUGE TRADE As
CHECK TO REVISION
standpatters Find Arguments in
New Records of American
Exports.
Even the Marks Made in McKin-
ley Boom Days Are Sur
passed This Year. ,.;
BY w. w. Jsrmane.

BY w. w. Jsrmane.
Washington, Aug. 14.-While not in
tended to be such, the latest bulletin is
sued by the bureau of statistics of the
department of commerce and labor is a
strong argument, against tariff revisions
alone The array of figures presented
In that bulletin must convince every
thinking American that the trade of
this country is advancing at rate
which is 50 unusual as to be almost phe-
nomeral in the history Of trade expan-
sion.
AS long as this condition prevails, it
may be taken for granted that there
will be no compelling sentiment in con-
gress or the country at large in favor of
tariff -tinkering.
The statsticians discover that the ex-
ports OF American manufactures for the
fiscal year 1905 were not only the larg-
bined exports of all articles in the CEN
tennial year 1876. The export trade in
manufactures has more than quadrupled
in Twenty-Five years, and the last year
distances even the records of the earlier
McKlnley years, when it was quite the
thing to characterize the welcome trade
expansion as a "boom.' The year
gone 1t so many better as to establish
new high water marks. Incidentally,
1t may be said that the export trade of
1905 was $40, 100000 larger than the
combined export and import trade of
the country at the close of the civil war
standpatters' Argument.
Here is an argument which the stand
patters may be expected to improve to
the last degree. To go little into de-
tail, it may be said that the 1905 ex-
ports aggregated $543,62O ,297. In 1904
they aggregated 1852 ,415,921 in 1900,
$433,s5l, 1855, and in 1895, 1888 ,5e5, 743.
These figures tell their own story. they
are full to running over with argument
and suggestion of argument in favor of
deferring consideration Of tariff ques-
tions.
Another startling fact brought out
by the federal bulletin is found in, the
statement that the wonderful growth in
export trade far exceeds the growth in
population or the growth in commerce
as whole. The percentage of increase
IN population since 1876, the beginning
of the greatest era of American devei.
opment, is 81, while the percentage Of
increase in exports Of manufactures for
q similar period IS AL.
Alarm in Europe.
It is this wonderful increase in Amer
1ca,r exports that is causing alarm
Europe. The United States is steadily
reaching out into fields hitherto monop-
ol1zed by those countries, and is even
competing for their domestic trade.
The result has been curtailment of
European commerce, or if not curtail-
ment, condition of stagnation that
has set foreign statesmen to thinking.
One Of the best known outcomes of
the 'American invasion' is the new
German reciprocity agreement with six
other European countries, which will
go into effect next spring. This agree
ment may have the effect of restricting
American trade with Europe; at least,
that is the apparent purpose behind it.
The standpatters in the United States
however, will claim that the Germans
are mistaken in their assumption that
they can by any possible form Of trade
agreement with the rest Of Europe, Sc
rlously lnjure this country. Just what
the effect Of the new German tariff will
be, probably only time will determine
The shutting out Of American products
will increase the price of foodstuffs in
Germany, and those prices are already
SO high as to cause much popular com
plant. At any rate, the standpatters
In In this county are not nearly Sc
they should be, provided that Situation
Is really threatening.
All Over the World.
American commerce has reached out
not only to Europe, but to Africa
South America, Asia and Japan. There
is not a world market where the Ameri
can merchant is not to be found. anC
his competition is usually so keen as tc
call for a fair division of business, anC
frequently for the lions share of it
This trade development has been under
way for many years, and the result is
condition of commercial unrest al
over. Europe, condition which is be-
such as that just issued by the bureau
of statistics
In time, if our foreign commerce is
to continue to develop, Europe will fee
1mpelled to combine against us; and if
combination does not result in our
Indeed, some, of the best-posted men in
the old world believe that the next
great war will be war for the nro
lection and extension of commerce, not
OF territory, Such war would almost
inevitably find the majority of the
against the United States. Great Brit
ain might be our ally, provided the
present friendly feeling between that
country and ours continues. And with
GREAT Britain, we would probably have
Japan, for the Chinese orient will be
the world market over which the trou
BILE may be expected to arise. ani
Japan feels more friendly to us than Il
does to continental Europe.
Look on Prosperity
But for the present there is no neeG
to anticipate the future. or to read int
1T anything as cruel and bloody as war
At the present hour, the United State.
has sufficient cause for thankfulness
Its commerce is on every sea, and it,
merchants have become the greatest O.
world.traders. 1t is pleasant to remem
Der that this condition of prosperity
the greatest this country, or any coun
. try. ever has known has now been un
der way for more than eight years. L
began with the Inauguration of McKin
ley: early in 1897. and trade totals fo1
each year since that time have estab
Hshed new records.
We all realize that there must be {
limit to this expansion. The higher
we climb, the greater will be the fall
when the time to fall shall have ar
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