Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-19
OPPORTUNITIES LOST
Theme Of Address by Secre-
tary Metcalf at Atlanta.
LARGE THR0NGPRESENT
RAPID GROWTH OF THE SOUTH
REFERRED TO.
Importance Of the United States as 6
Manufacturing Country-Reasons
for Slow Progress.

LOT dow EToSIeSS.
A dispatch from Atlanta last night
says: An audience gathered from every
part of the United States and representing
the organized and invested capital of the
country greeted Victor B.. Metcalf of the
Department of Commerce and Labor here
tonight. He delivered an exhaustive ad-
Dress summing up the commercial posi-
bilities of the country, and showing how
the manufacturers of the land are missing
their opportunities in the competition for
the international trade of the world. The
address was delivered to the members of
the National Association of Manufacturers,
who had finished the business of their tenth
annual convention earlier in the day.
Secretary Metcalf although dealing
largely with statistics and figures, held the
close attention of his cosmopolitan audience
to the end of his address, which consumed
more than two hours in delivery. His vigor
and forcefulness gave little hint that he
had spent the day under the care of ply
sician suffering from severe malarial at
tack. which threatened to prevent his APP
Dearance.
Rapid Growth of South.
Mr. Metcalf began his discussion by de-
claring, and establishing his statements by
figures, that the south within the last dec
ade and up to the present time had grown
and is growing in commercial Importance
and manufactures more rapidly than any
other section of the country. Her popua-
ton and every product of the soil, her iron
and coal production, showed a higher per-
centage of increase than the United States
as a whole.
Turning his attention to the Importance
OF the United States as a manufacturing
RJ- I1+o hot b1 tod
States leads the world as a manufacturing
country, the value of her products being
equal to that of Great Britain, France and
Germany combined, whereas in 1860 the
United States was the lowest in this respect
of the four nations. The total value of her
manufactures in 1900 was approximately
s13. 900, 100000.
In spite of this fact, the United States,
the greatest manufacturing country, exports
but 200 of the $4,000. 100000 of man
ufactured goods which enter into the
worlds international trade. Since 1898 the
United States has led the world in the ex-
port of domestic products-the products of
our fields and mines, breadstuffs, meats,
cCal, cotton, timber, iron, copper, mineral
oil for illumination-and the world takes all
we can produce in excess of our own de-
mapds. OF our manufactured products.
Only about per cent finds it's way to for
eign markets.
Consumed at Home
The remaining 90 per cent is consumed
by our own population. The production of
our manufactures is increasing more rap
fdly-th our population. The total value
Of our manufactures for 1905 will approx
innate s15, coo, 600, COO fifteen times more than
in 1850; while the population has hardly
more than quadrupled since that year.
Mr.. Metcalf declared that Europe Is the
great competitor of the United States in
the markets of the world Germany in par
tcular having an increasing hold on for
eign markets in which Great Britain Is
close second. He stated that these markets
are found everywhere, often in the coun-
tries located geographically nearer to the
United States than to the countries which
supply them. He further stated that the
exports of the United States to many of
these countries, notably to South American
lands, are much less than her imports from
those nations, and the preponderance of i'm
ports Is increasing at an alarming rate.
He then considered the causes of this
slow progress of the export of manufac-
tured goods from this country, the state
ment of which largely suggested the rem
edieS he proposed. These were:
First. American manufacturers. have
made little effort to extend their markets
abroad
Second. The European competitors of the
United States produce and pack their goods
in form and conditions suited to the mar
kets which they are intended to supply.
This was notably true of Germany.
Third. The lack, particularly in Asia,
Oceania, South America and Africa, of
financial institutions and machinery
through which business transactions may
be conducted.
Fourth. The fact that the manufacturers
of other competitive countries appreciate
the necessity of offering their goods through
persons familiar with the language of the
country in which their goods offered
and of having their printed matter in these
languages.
Fifth The lack Of direct shipping IA
cilities to the countries where competitive
markets are to be found and developed.
Cotton Production.
The United States today is the greatest
producer of raw cotton. England Is the
greatest manufacturer of cotton goods. She
buys annually 100000 bales from this
country; she manufactures this with Eng
lish labor into yarns and cloth. and after
supplying her home markets she exports
manufactured cotton goods to the value
or 1860, 100000. a product greater than that
of all the American mills combined
large share of this product comes back to
the United States The United States pro-
duces three-quarters of the worlds supply
of raw cotton, yet her exports of the manu-
featured cotton last year was s22,O00.00, a
decrease of $10,0O0.000 from 1903.
Following this comparison with others
covering different manufactures of this
country Secretary Metcalf closed with
declaration of the position occupied by
the department of which he is the head
to the manufacturing anu commercial IA
terests of the United States, its labor and
shipping interests, and the fostering care
which it extends over ALL
Election of Officers.
The tenth convention came to a close
shortly after noon today, after selecting
New York as the place for the convention
of 1906, re-electing DIN Parry of Indiana
as president and ordering that the associ-
alton shall berincorporated under the laws
of New York state. Vice presidents. one
from each state represented, were named
by the states, the vice presidents from the
twelve states having the largest member
ship in the association constituting. with
the president and secretary, the executive
committee After re-electing f. III. Still
man of New York treasurer, the roll of
states for vice president resulted as fol-
lows: