The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-12-05
ing for their secure administrator and to
establish reliable banks.
Agricultural Credits.


matte officers In Europe is the investiga-
ton OF the agricultural credit system In
the European countries. Both as a means
to AFFORD relief to the consumers OF this
country through q more thorough devei-
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 IL a concern OF vital Importance to this
nation. No evidence of prosperity among
well-esta blished farmers should blind us
to the fact that lack of capital II pre-
venting development of the nations ar
ricultural resources and an adequate In :
crease OF the land under cultivation; that
agricultural production IL fast falling be-
hind the increase In population and that.
In fact. although these well-esta blished
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-old farms. many years ago. The
problem had been successfully solved In
the old world and It was evident that the
farmers of this couhtry might profit by
study OF their systems. I therefore order
ed. through the department of state. an
investigation to be made by the dipio-
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 20. 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 valu-
alton approximately of q. 200, 0o0.000. as
compared with a fraction over $4,000 ooo. 90
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 home.
In the fiscal year 1911 the exports OF arti-
cIes In the various stages Of manufac-
ture. not including foodstuhs partly or
wholly manufactured. amounted approx
mately to 1907. 500. 0c0. In the fiscal year
1912 the total was nearly 81, 022. 00o.0
gain OF sl14.0Oc.0Oo.
Advantage Of Maximum and Minimum
TARIFF Provision.
The Importance which our manufactures
have assumed in the commerce of the
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 I'M
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. II 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 I have described the nego-
tiations OF the department of state with
foreign governments for the adjustment
OF the maximum and minimum tarin as
provided in section of the tarif law OF
1909 The advantages secured by the adj
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 most favored nation treatment
from all the countries OF the world. There
are, however. other instances which, while
apparently not constituting undue dis
III tne stUst VI StCtloH al
nevertheless exceptions to the complete
equity of tariff treatment for American
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 achieved in ramOying
viously 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 or dis
criminatory> treatment OF American
commerce in foreign countries still
encountered. as well as to protect
against injurious treatment on the part
of foreign governments. through either
legislative or administrative measures,
the financial interests abroad Of Amer
lean citizens whose enterprises enlarge
the market for American commodities.
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
8 the case may require, 10 any OF al
commodities whether or not on the
free list from a country which dis
eliminates against the United States, a
graduated scale OF duties up to the
maximum OF 25 per cent. ad valorem
provided In the present law. Flat tar
ms are out OF date.
Congress should fully realize the condi-
lions which obtain In the world as we
find ourselves at the threshold OF our
middle age as nation. We have
emerged full grown as a peer In the great
concourse OF nations. We have passed
through various formative periods. We
have been self-centered In the struggle 10
develop our domestic resources and deal
with our domestic questions. The nation
Ia now too mature to continue I'm Its for
eign relations those temporary expedients
natural to a people to whom domestic af-
fairs are the sole concern. In the past
our diplomacy has often consisted in
normal times. In a mere assertion OF the
right to international existence. We are
now in 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 corollaries, TO
find practical applications OF the old prin-
ciples expanded to meet new situations