Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-09-22
A CALL FOR AMERICAN PATRIOTS.

An appeal for renewed energy and
far-reaehing enterprise on the part of
American merchants and manufacturers
in order TO meet the extraordinary de-
mands that are being made on this ma.
tiOn because of the European war is
made striking full page advertise.
ment in the Chicago Tribune. II is an
appeal that carries an admouitiOn which
Americans must need if we are to So.
cure the full advantage of the remark.
able opportunities that are being
thrown within our grasp as a result of
economic conditions in war.torn Eu.
rope. It follows:
II is time for new declaration of
economic and industrial independence.
Each year we import, chiedy from
Germany, chemicals, drugs, dyes and
medicines to the value of nearly 800.
100000.
Many of our factories have become
dependent on this German supply. Now
that trade with Germany is entirely
stopped some OF these factories have
begun to close; retail prices of drugs
and medicines have multiplied many
fold.
Is the American chemist. scientist
and inventor so impotent that he will
see thousands of wOrkmen thrown into
dlenesS because he cannot or will not
make the needed compounds?
Are there no great American manu-
featuring chemists who eau duplicate
the German drugs and medicinrsi
Each year we send to France. which
is now calling its last man to the bat
tie line, nearly Sl00,0000O0 to pay for
flowers, feathers, bonnets, iewelry and
silks for the adOrnment of our women.
Are there no artists, no designers, no
silk mills, no lace and ribbon factories
in the United States which can supply
all this vast demand and keep this
100000, 900 at home!
May not one safely call on the pa.
trlOtiSm of American women to encour.
age our artists and our artisans! VIII
they not patronize them, if given a fair
chance?
Why shall we not make our own fine
qualities of cotton cloth, which have
been coming from the looms of devas.
tated Belgium and struggling France?
Are there not plenty of mineral
springs in the United States!
Must mercury for instance. lump
from S35 to 800 flask, while there
are great undeveloped mines of mercury
here at home?
Is there any reason why the woolen
mills of Massachusetts should not
weave as fine cloth as any English or
Scotch loom
New markets wanted! The greatest
and most profitable market in the
world is the home market from the
supply of which Europe has been al
most cut off. There is right here at
home trade of at least half billion
dollars annually, which it remains for
the American manufacturer to capture.
1t is more than a trade opportunity
it is patriotic duty to keep the mills
and factories of the United States run.
ing and to vastly increase their output.
With all Europe engaged in destruc.
tion, it is time for this country to push
constructive work to the utmost.
Let us by all means increase our
foreign trade; let us do everything we
can to supply the growing needs of
South America. But that will necessar.
lily be a slow business. Some arrange.
ment for mutual interchange of cred
its seems to be necessary before we can
do business at all with South America.
The home market is all around us.
The demand is immediate and pressing.
We have the necessary financial ma.
chinery.
The call ON the patriotism, the cour.
age and the vision of the American
manufacturer and business man is in.
sistent
The call upon the patriotic patronage
of the American housewife is even more
insistent.
To offset the destructive influences
of the European war upon the indus
trial and economic life of the United
States, the business men of the country
should speedily and courageOusly take
the necessary action.