The Detroit times., 1910-01-19
SAYS US. NEGLECTS
ITS FOREIGN TRADE
]. L. Ewell, Before Board of Com
merce, Points Out Deficiencies in
American Export Facilities.

Uncle Sans neglect OF his interests
abroad was the theme OF powerful
addresses by men thoroughly familiar
with the situation. at the quarterly
meeting and dinner OF the Detroit
Board OF Commerce. In the Hotel
Cadillac. Tuesday night.
James l.. Ewell. leading figure In
the National Association of Manufac
turers. pointed out i'm forceful man
ner the deficiencies of American ex-
port facilities. with some pointed OBJ
servations on the famous world
cruise OF our battleship feet. Had the
fleet become involved with any other
power 1t would never have reached
home, he declared. because every one
of the colliers that accompanied the
fleet were foreign vessels and, under
the international law. would have
been compelled TO desert the fleet In
the event OF war. His talk made a
deep impression and was easily the
feature OF the meeting.
r.. Clarence Jones, president OF
American Embassy association, the
purpose OF which Is to promote and
encourage the acquisition by the
United States OF permanent homes
for its ambassadors in foreign CAPT.
tails, went into this subject in minute
detail and made some interesting
comparisons between our embassies
and those of other nations. He esti-
mated that IL would cost $4,000 600
to establish permanent homes for our
ambassadors In all the capitals or
! Europe. The point he emphasized
particularly is that mental equipment.
not wealth. should be the first re-
quisite OF IN ambassador. Ii should
not be necessary for man TO pos
sess a great fortune to be qualified
for service in the diplomatic corps.
he said.
Secretary Sawyer submitted re-
port Of the boards doings for the past
three months. showing how 1t Is ful-
| filling its mission as a sort OF clearing
house for public opinion and ideas
looking to the bsttcrment OF the city
and the furtherance OF its interests.
! President Il. A. Sumner presided as
toastmaster and delivered a short
talk. in which he advocated more
liberal estimates for public improve
ments. other speakers were Fred
erick Townsend Martin and John ID.
Long, both of New York. on the pur-
poses OF the National Association OF
Manufacturers.
NJ. Ewells address follows In
part
Our future prosperity depends up
on the development OF our export
trade In manufactured products. We
are now coming TO manufacture more
than we can consume at home. In
most lines we can produce as much
! in eight months as we can consume
In twelve. and were 1t not for the for
eign markets which consume a thou
sand million dollars worth OF our
manufactured products annually, our
home markets would be glutted, and
ruin and stagnation would stare us in
| the face
This export trade does not come
by chance II we get 1t we must go
after It. The English are far ahead
of Us In the efficiency OF their con-
sular service as viewed from busi-
ness standpoint and as means OF
securing the information necessary
for the development of export trade.
Germany is even more systematic
than England in securing for the man.
ufacturers Of that country accurate
and extensive data.
"One great hindrance that the
American exporter has found In the
way OF success has been the lack OF
adequate financial facilities. The for
eign bankers in the various great
trade centers invariably assist In the
promotion of the business OF the
4. saI lIx,
sent Our shippers lacking such as
sistance. are at distanct disadvant-
age. We are glad, however, to re-
port that the International Banking
corporation, OF New York, is now TAX.
ing care of our financial interests in
the Orient, and that the National City
Bank OF New York city has arranged
TO establish chain OF Pan-American
banks in the great commercial cen
ters OF South America.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle OF
all TO the extension Of our foreign
commerce is the lack of American
ships. We are making our foreign
deliveries in the ships of our COM
mercial enemies who are our trade
rivals II need not be wondered that
they provide every facility possible
for the forwarding Of their own pro-
ducts and interpose every obstacle
that they can to the prompt delivery
of our goods.
"As q matter OF fact, the American
flag has almost vanished from the
high seas. We sell TO England. our
largest customer. s723 100000 worth
of products annually. but scarcely any
of this freight or OF the other thou
sand million dollars worth OF pro-
ducts which we manufacture and sell,
Is carried In our own ships. Sixty
per cent Of our foreign trade is car
ried in British bottoms. and twenty
per cent In German ships.
I'VE are building the great Panama
canal. at what will approach an ulti-
mate cost OF s500.000.000 For whom
are we spending all this vast bulk or
treasure? We have not "A single ship
nor foreign marine to sail through
that canal. 1t would appear that we
are building 1t for the ships OF other
nations.
'rhe situation which confronts us
bears not only a commercial peril but
touches our patriotism. When Prest
dent Roosevelt sent our fleet OF six
teen battleships around the world
with the view OF overawing Japan,
the only result was the exposure
OF our inherent weakness. II was
found necessary to charter 81 foreign
Golfers to carry the coal. While the
feet was on It's pompous course. had
this country become embroiled with