New-York tribune., 1907-10-05
STRAUS TO COTTON MEN
Warns against Keeping Tariff
Walls Too High.

Washington, Oct. 4.-The second and closing days
session of the National Association of Cotton Manu-
facturers marked by the delivery of ad-
dresses by two members OF President Roosevelt's
Cabnet-Secretary straus. of the Department of
Commerce and Labor, and Postmaster General
Meyer.
Secretary Straus reviewed tho history of the
cotton industry in this country. saying that 1t
founded in failure. He referred TO the diff
hculties in the early periods of promoting manu-
facture of cotton and other goods by the colonists
the result of prohibitive laws under Dutch and
British rule.
Even late 1774 he said. wool cards were
the only articles of machinery allowed TO be i'm
ported into this country. OF the cotton industry
now, Mr.. Straus said:
TO-DAY there is invested in this III INDUSTRY @ s63-
out annually in wages $1O6 6O0OOOO and exports S53.
SOo-abopt one.twelfth Of the value or t9is class lass
Of goods that enters into internatonal trade, Inc
so-caled yellow races are steadily increasing Gus.
prosper. provided we keep their good will they
viii buy moro and more OF your product ana o OF
other American manufactures. China took $Zo-
100000 less from you last year than the year be-
importation agreement' which was used so effec-
lively by us preceding the Revolutionary War. and
leave you to figure out. Probably Minister WI.
tbin Il ne voI3 Get him 70 te Won All that he Knows
the information cannot fail 20 be valuable both
Trade. like water finds it's own level and follows
along tho Highways OF least resistance. good
al 5ne 9e@g m OF aat eet Tbese @ NAV m ba useful
70 keep the hishwags open but not TO make trade
edge Of the market are the three requisites for
If you build your tariff walls too high in this
country you will encourage high walls on the
other side which are known by the name Of dis dis,
now No One foresaw this clearly than Pres
ident Mckinley. and no one has shown the way
increasing obstacles that lay in the path OF our
aoT rpHrigp changed
changing conditions In order TO gain our proper
share OF tho foreign markets.
Director North Of tho census bureau predicted
that NJ the next census and Mt each succeeding
census for a long period the Southern States will
show a greater relative advance. both in aEri-
culture and manufactures, than any other section
OF the United states. He said that In the last
seven years there had been marked tendency
to consolidation in ginning. He predicted that tho
next great advance IN tho handling OF lint cotton
would be the supplantng OF the present pre-
uminary and somewhat loose form OF packing by
the general introduction OF gin congresses. Ihe
gradual perfection OF the methods Of the ginning
census he said. had been followed by the complete
elimination OF speculative estimates OF tho size or
tho crop as n factor I'm fixing tho price. II the
cotton growth continues AT the present rate, Mr.
North continued, a majority Of the American spin
dies will be south OF Mason and Dixon's line.
II look forward with confidence" he added ito
the time when the United States, instead Of ex-
PORTING practically two-thrds OF It's cotton crop. Will
manufacture by the greater part OF II at home,
and Will secure for her own people the enormous
profits which lie in manufacturing this staple
Postmaster General Meyer spoke briefly concern
ing the postal service. He said he would recon-
mend IN the next Congress the establishment of
parcels post and postal sevings bank. both Of pc
crIiar interest TO cotton manufacturers. He added
that he was devoting much attention TO postal re
forms and desired to eliminate red tape in the
service.
The address of Mr.. Tompkns who was unable TO
be present, was read by the secretary.
I'VE need ships badly the farmer
needed factories in 1880" he said. we must have
farmer had when cotton went to five cents
pound"
Arthur Kufler. OF Vienna, president OF the Aus
trian Spnners' Association. bespoke cooperation
among the. cotton men OF the world
a defence OF the New York Cotton Exchange was
made by A. r. Marsh, member OF that exchange
lie declared especially against the charge that the
exchange is part OF the ''malevolent machinery"
OF Wall Street and is dominated by unscrupulous
gamblers. 1T is true" he said. that at least
three-fourths of the annual crop OF the United
States Is handled by members Of the New York
Cotton Exchange" Mr. Marsh said the reason
why the exchange maintains itself in the face OF
abuse and of the oft repeated declaration that II
has no legal right to exist because of the
unrivalled facilities of New York for handling q
worldwide credit business and because OF the I'M
equalled experience, skill and probty Of the active
members of the exchange In conducting such a
business"