The San Francisco call., 1907-06-02

fabrics, She is better qualified to sup
ply the oriental demand for cotton
goods than any other country. She
knows and understands the wants OF
her. people and thoss generally OF the
far east. and is preparing TO furnish
them. This. added to her geographical
position. will make her a dominant
factor. in the cotton trade OF the far
east In this connection il might be
well TO consider what Japan has been
doing for herself I'm 1909 the cotton
fabrics imported IN the shape of prints
amounted TO s1.sO1, ,016 gold; in 1903
this amount had been reduced to $751;
6SS while for the year 1904 they fell
TO s266.046. These figures .indicats
that Japan is already beginning TO
supply her own people with this class
Of merchandise. The imports OF
ginped cotton, on the other band. have
shown an increase. In 1908 they
amounted to SO f.103, $3.50 gold. while
in 1904 they increased TO sS35.ISS.422.
Leaving out Of consideration her home
consumption Japan exported to China
in 1895 cotton yarn to the amount OF
S517.2S9 gold
In 1905. notwithstanding the de-
mands of the army for cotton goods,
such as khaki. clothing. blankets, shirt
ings and socks her exports of cotton
yarn increased to $f4.634.2 .2SS gold In
other words Japan has been supplying
China with the material to make her
cotton goods. and IS now seeking to-
increase and develop this trade by pro
ducing a finished article which VIII
meet the demands of the Chinese in5
quality and cheepness.
From these general data Japan's
plan of campaign should seem fairly
clear: Indeed. it would be difficult for
any one to miss the point The gov
sernment OF Japan is helping her people
in every way possible, and the COM
mercial war cry Is Japan-hrst- last
and all the tinae-
In contrast. what Is Uncle Sam do
ing 10 increase his commerce.? The
answer must be very humiliating TO
any one who has come in contact with
commercial affairs in the orient In
any harbor in the orient except Manila
our merchant marine is notably con-
spfcuous by it's extreme snlallness and
generally by its total absence. While
other governments are Substituting
their steamship lines and sdeveiYS--
their commerce our congress. casTi~d
away by the vail OF muck rakers, who
see in every helpful measure a hidden
scheme to benefit a trust. and, inilu-
enced By magazine and newspaper
editors who have never been outside
of swivel chair in an Office building.
vetoed the great s-lIp subsidy bill
WHICH was dDSOiulei1 HttCSSdA- 70 eh~
able uS to compete with the foreign
subsidized fleets. The Pacific coast l.
already feeling the effects of the de-
feat of the BILL The line TO Australia
has been discontinued, and IL the limo
is resumed IL will doubtless be BY for
eign service. Mr.. Hill viii not replace
his floating palace Dakota. One by
one our dwindling merchant marine
will drop away. Soon Japan win beat
us out completely on the high seas.
and while restrictionists may hollo
till they are black in the face that IL
does not make any difference. since.
they claim, our internal commerce is
all we can attend to. yet the fact re-
mains that more than once our crops
have slumped because of the lack OF
a market, and our cotton men will
again burn their cotton; our Internal
commerce will be all we have
Before that bright star now rfsi06
In the east we are doomed TO q conSs
mercial eclipse in the orient. unless
our government. like the government
OF Japan. fosters coesign commOuA