The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-03

4O.O00 American citizens engaged in enterprises contribuH ting greatly to the prosperity of that republic and also benefiting the important trade between the two countries. The investments of American capital fin Mexico has been estimated at S1.Oc0. .0OO, GOO. The respoD- sfbility of endeavoring to safeguard those interests and the dangers insep- arable from propinquity to so turbulent a situation have been great, but am happy to have been able to adhere to the policy above outlined-a policy which hope may soon be justified by the complete success of the Mexican people in regaining the blessings of peace and good order.
 s--g x,,AaricuItural Credits.
 A most important work accomplished in the past year by the American dip lomatic officers in Europe is the fnves- ttgation of the agricultural credit sys- tenn tn the European countries. Both as a means to afford relief to the con- sume-s of this country through more thorough development of agricultural resources and as a means of more suf- ficiently maintaining the agricultural population. the project to esta blish credit facilities for tfie farmers is a concern of vital importance to this na- ton.
 No evidence of prosperity among well esta biished farmers should blind us to the fact that lack of capital is prevent ing a development of the nations agri- cultural resources and an adequate in- crease of the land under cultivation: {: that agricultural production is fast fall ing behind the increase in population and that, iD fact, although these well esta blished farmers are maintained in increasing prosperity because of the natural increase ip population, we are not developing the industry of agricuI- ture.
 We are not breeding in proportdcrate numbers race of Independent and in- dependence loving landowners, for a lack of which no growth of cities can compensate. Our farmers have been our mainstsy in times of crisis, and fin future it must still largely be upon their stability and common sense that this democracy must rely to conserve its principles of self government.
 The need of capital which American farmers feel today had been expert enced by the farmers of Europe, with their centuries-oid farms, many years ago. The problem had been success
 
 was evident that the farmers of this country might profit by a study of their systems I therefore ordered, through the department of state. an in- vestigation to be made by the dipIo- matic officers in Europe. and l have laid the results oe this investigation before the governors Of the various states with the hope that they will be used to advantage in their forth coming meeting.
 so Increase of Foreign Trade. rtssr
 Tn my last annual message I said that the fiscal year ended June 30. 1911. was noteworthy as marking the highest record of exports of Ameri- can products to foreign countries. The fiscal year 1912 shows that this rate of advance has been maintained. the total domestic exports having a vaiua- ton approximately of $220O. 900 .OOO. as compared with a fraction over $2.- coo. GOO. 900 the previous year. It Is partly manufactured 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 fncreaS- ing proportion of our abundant asri- cultural products be kept at home. In the fiscal year 1911 the exports Of aP- ticles in the various stages of manu- facture. not including foodstuffs partly or wholly manufactured amounted ap- froximateiJ to $907. 100000. In the fiscal year 1912 the total was nearly S1 OPP COG, COG, gain of $114.O00.0Oo Advantage of Maximum and Minimum
 Tari&g ProviSion
 The importance which our manufac- lures have assumed in the commerce of the world in competition with the manufactures of other countries again draws attention to the duty of this government to use it's utmost endeay- OTIS to secure impartial treatment for American producM in all markets. Healthy commercial rivalry in inter nationa. intercourse is best assured by the possession of proper means for protecting and promoting OUT foreign trade. It is natural that competitive countries should view with some con- cern this steady expansion of our com- merce. If in some instances the meas ure taken by them to meet it are not entirely equita bls a remedy should be found.
 In former messages have described tIle ReSOtIauOnS or CAe department OF state with foreign governments for the adjustment of the maximum and mini mum tariff as provided in section 2 of the tarif law of 1909. The advan- tages secured by the adjustment 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 req son to complain have been removed. The department of state has for the first time in the history of this coun- try obtained substa ntial most-fa vored- nation treatment from all the countries of the world.
 There are. however, other instances which, while apparently not cOnsitut- ing undue discrimination in the sense of section 2, are nevertheless excep- dons to the complete equity of tariff