The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-17
MUST HAVE SHIPS
TO CARRY GOODS
Elmer Crawford, in Address a,
Clubs, Tells Manufacturers
of Great Opening.
CANAL WILL. HELP SOUTH
Severely Raps Congress for Its
Attitude OH Big Public
Question.

Two hundred and ntty members of
the Business Mems Club and Invited
guests last night heard Elmer Craw-
ford. the Chicago editor and newspaper
proprietor, speak on. THE Trade Pos
sibiiities for the South Through the
Opening Of the Panama Canal"
Great as has been tbs development
of the South in the past quarter OF
century," said Mr.. Crawford, "a great
or commercial impetus awaits our bust
ness friends OF the Southern Stats
upon the opening OF the Panama Canal
In the next fifteen years the Increase
of manufacturing industries in the
southern States Will be so great that
the present methods of doing business
mere viii be obsolete
/ The owners of the entire SOS, o0o,-
100000 OF property In the South should
arise as one man and demand OF Con-
gress the immediate revision OF our
navigation laws. so that American
ships shall be in position to carry
u; least 6j.2 per cent. O: our products.
Us they did in 1861. instead OF SIS per
cent. as they did IN 1911. Would that
the halls of Congress might ring again
with patriotic oratory as of old. so as
10 rivet the attention of this nation
=
and shipping facilities
Would Blot Out Stars
what Il sad commentary upon the
qualifications and foresight Of our re-
markable bunch of petty graftars who
have thronged the halls or Congress
the past half century. and whose nbili-
ties were in evidence only when they
were able to feather their own nests
md who would have blotted out the
stars on the American flag and re-
placed them with the dollar signs, had
they dared"
While not committing h.ms II to any
particular ship subsidy bill. Mr. Craw-
ford was emphatic in the demand Tor
some subsidy of steamship lines IL
American goods are to be carried in
American bottoms IN way to enrich
| Ame rican manufacturers Before
launching into his philippe against
the hesitancy OF Congress to approach
this question, the speaker took up the
general aspect OF the canal question in
reference 10 trade.
The paramount problem that should
interest the manufacturers OF this
country is the proper conception and
| solution OF trade eXpenslon," he said.
The spheres OF influence controlled
by European nations are so extensive
that 1t behooves us to study we'll tho
situation. This great question and Its
our manufacturers in few years thar
the solution OF any problem now be-
fore the American people. Upon its
proper solution depends thA prosperity
of tho manufacturers. and Incidentally
the prosperity OF our progressive coun-
try.
Germany oIny Take Lend.
Germany in the past thirty years
has not only surpassed the United
States and all otner nations of Eu-
rope in trade expansion. but Is des-
tinsd 10 become the leading CONNER
c!al nation Of the world, unless there
Is a tremendous Industrial awakening
along these Inns in TINS country.
Her products are carried in German
owned and controlled ships and arc
handled and exploited by Germans in
foreign lands. Our manufacturers
have been amply warned of the com
mercal attitude OF Germany, and con
not but realize that In Il few years
because of the aggressiveness of the
German manufacturer, hundreds OF
our manufactured products VIII be
driven from Europe.
! What is going TO be done by our
manufacturers. who must in the
future depend upon foreign trade for
the marketing OF a large part OF their
products? Reciprocity in it's most
comprehensive character must prevail
with the nations north and south OF
us. We must also have facilities for
the transportation of our products.
and the protection OF our commercial
credit. If we expect to capture and
maintain trade with the Latin Ameri-
can countries, there must be method
in our operations. The Panama canal
VIII bring us nearer to Latin America
by thousands OF miles than any ag-
: grcssive manufacturing nation. but we
should have our own ships to carry
our products, and our own banks 10
handle our credits"
Fears Some Grent War.
Mr.. Crawford closed his striking
address with a prediction of war with
some powerful European manufacture
ing nation over the abolition of the
Monroe Doctrine. unless America n
manufacturers obtain and maintair,
such n firm grip on the trade of Latin
America that European nations will
lack the pretext for tho acquisition OF
, territorial concessions IN South Amer
lea. The address created profound
impression.
Following Mr.. Crawford. John Trix.
of Detroit. banker. educator and phil
, lanthrop'st, delivered a humorous talk
that brought down the roof with
applause. Mr. Trix illustrated his re-
marks on labor conditions in Detroit
in such manner that his audience
was kept in n gale OF laughter lie
described step by step the organiza-
tion and perfection of the merchants
combination IN Detroit that has ef-
fcctually blocked the dominance of the
trade unions. and put the employers
in position to deal on equal terms
with the employe over labor difficult
! ties. Mr.. Trix has been three times
president of the Employers Associa-