The sun., 1907-08-22
OUR LARGE COTTON IMPORTS.
Are We to Congratulate Ourselves when
We supply the Raw Material?


Are We to Congratulate Ourselves when
We supply the Raw Material?
To THE EDIToR or The suN-Sir: In an
editorial entitled Our Place In the Cotton
Business" In THE SUN Of August 20 this state
ment 10 made:
Our foreign business in manu- factured cottons Ia
q commercial Disgrace TO us. The world comes to
us for something like 20 per cent. OF It's Tcaa!se
ments OF the raw material, yet We imported last
year 700 900 worth OF manufactured cotton goods
and exported only ss2 900 900 worth.
Whatever the state of The cotton trade may
be commercially. q survey Of the causes leaves
no doubt that for the United States 1t Ia q
reason for congratulation. We supply the
world with 20 per cent. Of its raw cotton be-
cause nature has provided in our Southern
States the right combination OF soil and c-
mate for the growth OF the cotton plant.
That combination is lacking in other coun-
tries. We do not supply manufactured cotton
goods to other countries because our cost Of
manufacturing In 40 much higher than in for
eign countries that competition is practically
impossible. This higher cost is due to higher
wages and higher standard OF living.
England admits cotton goods free OF duty.
The Dingley tariff imposes a duty OF about
80 per cent Nevertheless, England bought
only o. 2.042.377 worth OF cotton goods from us
in the year ended June. 1905. under her sys-
TEN OF free trade. and sold to us $40, .227
worth subject to the Dngley duty, During
the same time Germany bought only 1911 ,6T
tariff but sold sis.i5o,Sl5 worth under our
higher tsriff. u should 5e borne in mind that
I1,ad ss psrt ea me % SStfon rom S9ods s9,a
cotton that could be bought az cheap in the
United States as in England or Germany.
These illustrations could be extended to
include the whole world. Whether it is ad-
visable for the United States TO acquire the
ability TO compete with foreign countries by
Of living down to the foreign level is a gues-
tion that shall not attempt to discuss here.
cause for our small exports OF cotton goods,
which you term a commercial Disgrace"
the %oriS ia The STEADY increase IN tSe sropor 70
tion OF the worlds cotton crop used by Amer
lean mills TO supply our domestic wants.
ence OF the cotton manufacturing industry in
foreign countries IL is the result OF the
Seepe aSpsy tboss Threatened ns b% Il ars
the most keenly alive to its real Significance.
That explains the strenuous efforts OF foreign
o side Of e the % American % @ cotton % belt. TSose
efforts have failed because nature has placed
the worlds cotton fields In our southern
the facts. and in few weeks there will arrive
in this country at least 100. probably more.
to attend a conference Of cotton planters and
manufacturers at Atlanta, Ca, to discuss
ways and me means Of supplying the mills E with
marketing and handling Il.
This question Of the cotton supply. while
OF direct and immediate importance TO spin
ners and weavers, Is q matter Of deepest con-
cern to the rulers OF Europe. A disarrange-
ment In the wine trade recently brought the
south OF France to the verge of anarchy.
The incident illustrates the terrible conse-
quences that would follow an interruption in
the supply OF American cotton 70 European
mills, either through temporary failure of
the crop or through steady absorption by the
American consumer OF cotton goods, The
state OF our cotton exports and impc<~s that
you term a disgrace is but the natur conse-
Quence OF worldwide conditions th bring
home to mankind the urgent questio What
SAMUEL 8. DALE.
BosroN. Mass, August 20.