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
,ocilities and improved port conditions
:, The city is to benefit by the proposed
trade expansion, in the opinion of Alba
y Johnson, president of the Baldwin Lo-
oon,otive Works and a member of the
.norial committee appointed by Secretary
pedield to cooperate with the National
trade Council, now engaged in making
olsns for obtaining a larger portion OF
the South American trade.
MIR. johnson returned home last night
yrom a meeting of the council in New
York, and is enthusiastic over the work
the Government committee and the coun-
ciI can do. For the present, however, the
nrogram is only in organization, and MIR.
Johnson could not outline all that is pro-
nosed But he did announce that one OF
she most important things for the future
trade relations between South American
countries and the United states Is the
obtaining of a dollar exchange system,
SO that 1t shall not be necessary for
American gold to go there by the way Of
London.
EXCHANGE SYSTEM BENEFICIAL.
"Tt does not seem the right thing for
America to go down to South America
and steal away from the countries that
are now engaged in war the business
they have built up; but instead, we be-
lieve that this country must so after
the 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
to create demand for American goods
and to improve the exchange arrange
ments so that the importers of South
America will want to buy from u.s." said
Mr.. johnson. "Our work will be done
tust as though there were no war in
progress.
when asked some time ago il Argentine
would not now be buying all her i'm
norts from the United States" he con-
tinucd, "a diplomat replied that Ii would
certainly not send the trade here, but
that America must come down there and
get it. We propose TO build up the trade
by 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-
QCTRED.
"In,provcd transit facilities will Go
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. !
ing men, and whatever helps them is go |
iuG TO mean greater success for the Phila- |
Gclphia industries in their trade eNpan- |
sion. And of coursc anything that can |
IL, tn bG &c t,
make Philadelphia more able TO take ad-
vnnatc Of the increased trade that may |
come hero. This city has always been
3 centre for export trade, and should par
tcunrlv benefit now as in the past"
Mr. Johnson expressed much pleasure in
the committee with which he is working
Tor trade expansion, saying that he had
round the members 10 be men of wide OK
perlenc" and the committee ono 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
tees. hut Mr.. Johnson said that these
committees and others might hG expected
o work out practical plans, witch would
10 presented to the annual convention TO
70 held probably in January. Then the
convention, he explained, would adopt the
usscstions that seemed best and the
ouncil could go before Congress with a
clinitc program.
Ihc activities of the local committee
". Johnson would not discuss, as he said
u had not been in touch with the mem
ers, fiowevcr, he is much interested
4 what Is being done and expects fine
csults.
asked his opinion regarding the suG-
cStion of the Russian Foreign Minister, |
nnt from Ietrograd yesterday, that the
hlted States and England should i'm
leiatcly work for the Russian trade
nat Germany has had in tho past, and !
mould send experts to that country he
'ic the war ends to advance the chances
Dr. american shippers, Mr.. johnson said:
mat sounds very interesting, but at
't present time | prefer not to discuss
for publication"