Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-17
ALBA JOHNSON FOR
IMPROVED TRANSIT
AND PORT FACILITIES
Essential 10 South American
Trade, Says Member of
Committee Named by Sec
retary of Commerce.

philadelphia must obtain better transit
,,cilities and improved port conditions
!, The city is to benefit by the proposed
,rode expansion, in the opinion of Alba
y Johnson, president Of the Baldwin Lo-
oornotiye Works and a member of the
,,ecial committee appointed by Secretary
podfeld to cooperate with the National
Trade Council, now engaged in making
mans for obtaining a larger portion of
,be South American trade
AIR. Johnson returned home last night
from a meeting of the council in New
york. and is enthusiastic over the work.
+be Government committee and the coun-
oil can do For the present, however, the
nroeram is only in organization, and Mr..
Johnson could not outline all that is pro-
posed. But he did announce that one of
The most important things for the future
trade relations between South American
countries and the United states is the
attaining of a dollar exchange system
On that il shall not be necessary for
American gold to go there by the way of
London. --.
EXCHANGE SYSTEM BENEFICIAL.
at does not seem the right thing for
America to go down to South America
are now engaged in war the business
they have built up: but instead, we be-
lIeve that this country must 90 after
fine trade in much the same way as it
should have before there was any war.
And, for this reason, there will be a
constructive program and we shall strive
10 create a demand for American goods
and to improve the exchange arrange
mcnts so that the importers of South
America will want to buy from u.s." said
Mr. johnson. "Our work will be done
fist as though there were no war in
progress
"Whcu asked some lineage If Argentine
would not now be buying all her i'm
rorts from the United States" he con-
tinucd "a diplomat replied that it would
certainly not SeHd tho trade here. but
that America must come down there and
ret it. We propose to build up the trade
hy improving the exchange system and
by creating a demand for American
goods We have been buying much more
from South America than traders of that
country have been buying from the
United States. But we shall soon soil |
more than we buy if we have the trade !
arrangements improved.
BETTER TRANSPORTATION RE-
QC1RED.
Improved transit facilities will do |
much 20 assist Philadelphia in making !
the most Of the particular benefit it would |
gain from improved trade relations be-
tween this country and those Of the
south, for they would benefit the work.
lug men, aud whatever helps them is 90
In to mean greater success for the PhiIa-
delpiIia industries In their trade eNpan-
sion. And. of course. anything that can
q Ia lao n,t it,I ID
mako Philadelphia more able to take adj
vantage of the increased trade that may |
come hero. This city has always been |
R centre for export trade, and should par
tcuiarlr benefit now as in the past"
Alr. Johnson expressed much pleasure in
the committee with which he is working
for trade expansion, saying that he had
percncc and the committee one of the
most intelligent and practical he ever
worked with
Little was done yesterday excepting
routine matters, such as the reading of
reports and the appointment of commit
lees But Mr.. johnson said that these
and others might be expected
10 work ont practical plans, which would
be presented TO the annual convention to
be held probably in January. Then the
'OhVenton he explained, woul1 adopt the |
iusgestions that seemed best and the
:ouncil could 90 before Congress- with a
'etnlte program.
The activities of the local committee ,
VT. Johnson would not discuss. as he said
'e had not boen in touch vita the MEM
eiS. However, he Is much interested
2 wnat is being done and expects fine ,
ssults. !
Asked his opinion regarding the sug- :
estion OF the Russian Foreign Minister, 7
eVt from Pctrograd yesterday, that the :
nlled States and England should inn :
l%lhtelE work for the Russian trade 7
at Germany has had IN the past, and :
lopld send experts to that country be- r
're the war ends to advance the chances
Ir m american shippers, ATr Johnson said: \
Ihat tounds very interesting, but at :,
II present time 7 prefer not to discuss =
Tor publications" !
L