Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-28
Owners of 33,167 Facto-
ries in Nation Petition
President Wilson.
POINT TO UNEMPLOYED
Abundant Capital Awaits In
yestment When Attacks
Cease, 1t Is Claimed.

washington. D. C, May 2S-Claim-
ing to represent 33.167 factories with
1854 600 employees. officers of the Ma
tioual Implement and Vehicle associa-
tiou. Ohio Manufacturers association.
and the Illinois Manufacturers associ-
.tion. called on President Wilson to-
day and petiuOned that all Legislation
affecting the business Of the world,
except the trade commission bill. be
withheld until the trade commission
could look into the business situation
and make a report on which congress
might enact laws satisfactory to man
ufacturers and employees.
The petition stated: Business is
hesitating." the unemployed are num-
bered in hundreds OF thousands and
abundant capital awaits investment"
The president, replying, said. while
he was aware that there was a present
depression in business. there was
abundant evidence IT was merely psy-
cological. and that there was no materS
ial conditions or substantial reason |
why the business OF the country should /
not be in a more prosperous and ex-
panding condition. He urged upon the /
visitors the necessity for patriotic Co
operation on the part of the business
men Of the country in order to support 1
rather than oppose moderate processes
LTa rlNa - e--fas hfz
pose was TO serve and not hinder or
injure business
Hill in Protest.
Washington. d. c., May 2s.-James /
J. Hi, discussing The Future OF Our
Foreign Trade" IN paper read at the
national foreign trade convention
here. intimated that the United
States might be in danger OF running
into such a widespread industrial dis
tress as England now found itself
from attempting TO hold markets
against competitors while maintaining
a wage scale that does not permit II
20 meet their prices and does not offer
20 capital any inducement into new
feds Of Development
He compared the per capita value of
which is siI. TO that OF Germany.
which is SCI. and that of the United
Kingdom, which is S125. He said il
was a short-sighted optimism that has
concentrated attention for many years
on the increase OF our exports and
manufactured products. Germany was
constantly capturing English markets
because OF the inability of the English
manufacturer 70 change his working ,
conditions in conformity to general
changes that have taken place. The
United States was following Eng.ands
example.
Refers TO Union Power.
THE power of the English trades
unions became practically arbitrary in
fixing wages. hours and general work !
Ing conditions. Germany found that,
With a more advantageous wage scale.
she could 20 into the worlds markets
aud compete at prices which England
,ould not meet. Hence the enormous
growth OF German exports. Hence a o
competition which the United States 9
tself cannot meet in many lines. and n
which II could not meet at all did not I,
immense and excessible natural re- a
'ources. and, in certain lines OF manu- o
acture. the use of highly skilled labor e
nd highly complicated machines G.
Which cheaper labor Is not competent II
o handle, give US a temporary adyan-
age. But that advantage. ike every 4
taer exceptional local condition in the
Eorid trade. tends 70 be equalized and =
isappears."
Points to Industrial Distress.
He pictured the industrial distress
England and said IL would seem
nat rational conduct might save the
ay' but the burden placed by unwise OF
sstricted legislation and unnecessary 81
ixation upon business in the~United a
lates are producing their natural ef- m
;cts here also. Just such mistakes Is
Great Britain has made and is max 10
g may confront the American work
gman with a lost job. and empty Id
'pooard and no younger and more ID
'omising land TO which he may emf
ate. Losing gradually the advan-
Ses that our position and resources
I've given US up 10 recent date moth
g but deeper wisdom and a keener
nee Of justice toward all factors that
ost unite 10 create national prosper nj
can keep US at the front I'm the Bi
ee with other nations or even insure 10
against disappointment, disorder of
q economic distress at home" in