New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-09
PRAISE FOR KNOX PLAN
LEWIS NIXON TALKS ON
FOREIGN COMMERCE.
Says Secretary of State Mag Be Do
ng for Country's Trade What
Hamilton Did for Finance.

Lewis Nixon, at his home on staten Island.
spoke yesterday in praise of Secretary Knox's
efforts for the organization of trained force of
business and economic experts TO obtain infor-
NATION 10 aid in the extension Of the foreign
commerce OF this country. A special appropria-
ton OF 100000 for this work asked by Secre-
tary Krox was made by Congress at the close
of the session.
The adoption OF definite and aggressive
policy OF commercial expansion by this country
to be based upon trade facts and not statistical
probabilities is one of the most hopeful signs
Of the times said Mr. Nixon
With cheaper raw material we may improve
somewhat upon export prices. and though
the American consumer does not benefit. the
economies possible through a sustained maxi
mum output should lower prices even apart from
competition.
Conditions which make for a constantly in
creased cost OF. living must be met by an in
creasing wage scale. While am satisfied that
labor costs are increasing with rivals. it
will be many years before they reach our stand
ard, especially if it keeps on advancing.
The fact must be appreciated that if the cost
OF living is less with similar nourishment, the
cost of production Is less. and, barring some
slight differences in refinement OF product, the
cost of living will largely measure cost of pro-
duction. Any one who will take the trouble 70
talk with wage earners will have forcibly pre-
sented TO him the alarming increase in cost OF
necessary living expenses.
80 We have cause TO be thankful that IN
Secretary Knox we have a Secretary OF state
who appreciates the fact that the strategy OF
trade is even more important than the strategy
Of war II is a humiating paradox that the
country which is internally the most powerful
the richest and most enterprising should from
s,o Of yfa Of foreign commerce, De INe
weakest and least progressive.
WAITING FOR TRADE To COME.
we take the position Of the self satisfied
merchant who waits behind the counter for Gus
toners TO seek his wares. while an enterPrisins
rival goes after the customer, wares IN hand
The refinement Of products and their ex-
cellence is very generally admitted, ana were
II easy To receive them they would be largely
taken throughout the world
while the uninforrned think that all We
need Is to beat tom-tom and send forth our
products to a world which needs them, II must
not he lost sight Of that must SOW that we
may reap. They may want our products, and on
their merits they should have them. but the fact
remains that they obtain them elsewhere IL IS
not always through lower price either out
through certain conditions cf presentation ana
delivery, longer credits. established soooWHi'
more direct communication oF better banking
facilities
There are times when from our unfortunate
dependence upon ships OF other nations TO carry
our grain so much is delivered at Liver
pool as ~ sag the market and affect the price
of wheat upon the most distant farms Ger
many with not one-tent.i the God-given facii-
ties We enjoy. has brought about a preference
for German goods and German ships by an en-
iightened r)licy. practically applied. OF looking
out for her own people and their interests first
and the rest OF the wor second
Many OF our economists who think you can
anticipate millennium conditions wish TO
verse this policy and seem to have their way.
In consequence American foreign commerce
languishes. though dig and delve and sweat
TO overbG' ~ce ou- imports by millions Of ex-
ports. Yet instead OF obtaining credits this
account there were times last year that the
weekly sailinss OF steamships threw the people
into spasms because they carried away few
millions in gold.
For the prosperity Of those who labor and
those who sell We must have unintermittent
production. and 10 avoid the perils of overpro-
duction and congestion must find foreign
markets for our surplus products
FOREIGN MARKETS NEEDED.
Nothing equals our home market, nor ever
will. but we need foreign markets as balance
wheel OF course. l think must stop the
drain Of foreign ship freight charges. which is
really foreign import and must be paid for by
additional exports. but there many other
factors entering into this great question.
We lag behind nations who through en-
terprise overcome handicaps that should nat
urally put them far behind if we did our |
part we'll they. II is true we are doing |
well. but the crime consists. when capable OF |
doing better. in being content to do the less
Secretary Knox combines the business in |
stinct with craftsmanship of high order. II
through his initiative he enable the United |
States 10 play a part in the worlds affairs |
commensurate with our capacity he will do for |
the commerce of the country what Hamilton |
did for finance. and will take rank with the |
greatest of American statesmen
This is u departure in which party politics |
and political expedience should have no infiu- |
ence."