Montpelier examiner., 1912-12-06
ing for their secure administration and to
establish reliable banks.
Agricultural Credits.

most important work. accomplished
in the past year by the American dipio-
matte officers in Europe. is the investiga-
tio. OF the agricultural credit system In
the European countries. Both as a means
to afford relief to the consumers OF this
country through a mere thorough devel-
opment OF agricultural resources and as
a means of more sufficiently maintaining
the agricultural population, the project
to establish credit facilities for the farm
ers is a concern of vital Importance to this
nation. No evidence of prosperity among
well-establshed farmers should blind us
to the fact that lack of capital Is pre-
venting development of the nations ag-
ricultural resources and an adequate In
crease OF the land under cultivation; that
agricultural production is fast falling be-
hind the Increase in population; and that,
In fact although these wefl-established
farmers are maintained in increasing
prosperity because of the natural increase
in population, we are not developing the
industry of agriculture
The need OF capital which American
farmers feel today had been experienced
by the farmers of Europe, with their cen
turies-oid farms. many years ago, The
problem had been successfully solved In
the old world and it was evident that the
farmers of this country might profit by
study of their systems therefore order
ed, through the department of state. an
matte officers in Europe. and have laid
the results OF this investigation before the
governors of the various states with the
hope that they will be used to advantage
in their forthcoming meeting.
Increase of Foreign Trade.
In my last annual message said that
the fiscal year ended June 3d. 1911. was
noteworthy as marking the highest record
of exports OF American products to foreign
countries The fiscal year 1912 shows that
this rate OF advance has been maintained.
the total domestic exports having vaiu-
alton approximately of 5000, 10000, as
compared with a fraction over $1,000 600, 900
the previous year. II Is also significant
that manufactured and partly manufac-
tured articles continue to be the chief
commodities forming the volume of our
augmented exports, the demands OF our
own people for consumption requiring that
an increasing proportion OF our abundant
agricultural products be kept at nome.
In the fiscal year 1911 the exports Of aru-
cies In the various stages of manufac-
ture. not including foodstufis partly or
wholly manufactured. amounted approxi-
mately to 1901. 800, 900. In the fiscal year
1912 the total was nearly s1.o22- 100000.
gain OF $114.000.0oo.
Advantage OF Maximum and Minimum
TARIFF Provision.
The Importance which our manufactures
nave aHSumed IN tHe gOD1mtTCe VI tho
world in competition with the manufac-
lures of other countries again draws at
tention to the duty of this government to
use its utmost endeavors to secure Inn
partial treatment for American products
In all markets. Healthy commercial riv-
airy in international intercourse is best
assured by the possession OF proper means
for protecting and promoting our foreign
trade. It is natural that competitive
countries should view with some concern
this steady expansion of our commerce
II in some instance the measure taken
by them to meet II are not entirely equi-
table. remedy should be found. In for
mer messages / have described the nego-
tiations OF the department of state with
foreign governments for the adjustment
OF the maximum and minimum tarim as
provided in section Of the tarin law or
1909. The advantages secured by the ad-
justment of our trade relations under this
law have continued during the last year,
and some additional cases OF discrimina-
tory treatment of which we had reason
to complain have been removed. The de-
partment of state has for the first time
in the history of this country obtained
substantial ost-favored-n treatment
from all the countries of the world There
are. however, other instances which, while
apparently not constituting undue dis
elimination In the sense of section 2. are
nevertheless exceptions to the complete
products that the department of state
consistently has sought to obtain for
/ American commerce abroad
These developments confirm the opin-
ion conveyed to you In my annual mes
sage of 1911. that while the maximum
and minimum provision of the tariff
law of 1909 has been fully justified by
the success achieved in removing pre-
existing undue determinations
against American products. yet expert
ence has shown that this feature of the
law should be amended in such way as
to provide fully effective means of
meeting the varying degrees OF dis
criminatory treatment of American
! commerce In foreign countries still
encountered. as well as to protect
against Injurious treatment on the part
.lof foreign governments, through either
or administrative measures.
{ the financial interests abroad of Amer,
Il lean citizens whose enterprises enlarge
j "a market for American commodities.
! s%cannot too strongly recommend to
congress- the passage OF some such
/ enabling measure as the bill which was
recommended by the secretary OF state
In his letter of December 13. 1911. The
object of the proposed legislation is, In
brief to enable the executive to apply
as the case may require, to any or all
commodities, whether or not on the
free list from country which dis
eliminates against the United States. a
graduated scale Of duties up to the
maximum of Is per cent ad yalorem
provided in the present law. Flat tar
iffs are out of date.
Congress should fully realize the condi-
tions which obtain In the world as we
nnd ourselves at the threshold of our
middle age as q nation. We have
emerged full grown az q peer In the great
concourse Of nations. We have passed
through various formative periods. We
have been seif-centered In the struggle to
develop our domestic resources and deal
with our domestic questions. The nation
is now too mature to continue in Its for
eign relations those temporary expedients
natural to a people to whom domestic at
fairs are the sole concern In the past
our diplomacy has often consisted in
normal times. In q mere assertion of the
right to international existence. We are
now in q larger relation with broader
rights OF our own and obligations to 9TH
ers than ourselves. A number of great
guiding principles were laid down early In
the history Of this government. The re-
cent task OF our diplomacy has been to
adjust those principles TO the conditions
of today, to develop their coroilaries, to
and practical applications of the old prin-
cipies expanded to meet rev situations.
Thus are being evolved bases upon which
can rest the superstructuFe OF policies
which must grow with the destined pro-
gress OF this nation The successful con-
duct of our foreign relations demands
broad and q modern view. We can not
meet new questions nor build for the fu-
ture II we confns ourselves to outworn
dogmas Of the past and TO the perspec-
tive appropriate at our emergence from
colonial times and conditions. The open
ing of the Panama canal will mark new
era In our international life and create