Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-04

We should plant n great deal moro. 1t
Is necessary that our land should yield
more per acre than II does now. II
Is necessary that there should not be
a pillow. or a spade idle In this country
If the world Is to be fed.
THE origin and use OF that depart
n"nt Is to inform men Of tho last
Developments and disclosures of
science. with regard to all the pro-
ccsscs by which soils can be put to
their proper use and their fertility
made the greatest possible.
similarly with the Bureau OF stand
ards. 1t Is ready to supply those
things By which you can set forms. you
can state bases for all the scientific
processes of business.
The government of the United
States is very properly a great instru-
mentality of inquiry and mforma-
ton We ought long ago 10
have sent the best eyes OF the govern
ment out in the world where the oppor-
tunities and openings OF American com
mcrcc and American genius were TO
be found.
MANY OTHER WAYS
OF USING GOVERNMENT
But there are other ways of using
me government OF the United
states You can use the govern
tneht or the United States by influence
ing It's legislation. That has been Il
very active Industry. but 1t has not
Always been managed in the interest
or the whole people 1T Is very in
structivo and useful for the govern
fnent or the United States to have such
means as you are ready to supply for
getting n sort of consensus OF opinion
which proceeds from no particular
quarter and originates with no par
tlcular interest. because information ls
tho very foundation of all right action
In legislation.
Men on the inside of business know
how business is conducted and they
cannot complain If men on the outside
make mistakes abou, business iflthcv
do not come from the inside and give
the Kind of advice which is necessary
The trouble in the past, for. think.
the thing is changing very rapidly has
generally been that they came with
all their bristles out They came on
me defensive. They came 20 see, not
what they could accomplish. but what
they could prevent. Thcy did not come
TO guide. but they came TO block. and
eral body polite
There are a great MAN. drc,df =.
things about war. az nobody needs 10
te told in this day of distress and of
terror. But there is one thing about
war which has Il very splendid side
ana that is the consciousness that n
whole nation gets. that they must all
act as unit, for the nation: and
when peace IS as handsome as war.
there VIII be no war. When men
mean, engage in the pursuits Of p.ace
In the same spirit of sclf-sacrificc. and
OK conscious service of the community
with which. at any rate the common
soldier engages in war. then shall there
pc wars no more. You have moved
the vanguard for the United states in
inc purposes OF this associa tion lust
"a little nearer tina; dcai That is the
reason / am here. because beliova
that.
ADVICE ON COMPETITIONS
IN FOREIGN MARKETS
There is specific matter about
which. ]. FOR one. want your advice,
Let me say. II may say it wi.hou,
dIsrespcct. that do not think YOU are
prepared to give it right away. You
! VIII have TO make some rather extend
ed Inquiries before you are ready TO
give II. What ] am thinking of is con-
pttitlon In Foreign markets as between
the merchants Of different nations.
/ speak OF the subject with a Ger
tam degree OF hesitation, because the
'hthE lhrthcst from my thought is
taking advantage of nations nov dis
aoied from playing the full part in
that competition, and seeking a sudden
"a n,
the time being disabled. Pray believe
me. that we ought TO eliminate all ,bat
thought from our minds. and consider
this matter as If We and the Other
nations of the world were IN the nor
NAL circumstances of commerce There
is n normal circumstance of commerce
In which we are apparently at dis
advantage
our antitrust laws apparently
make 1t illegal for merchants In the
! United states To form combinations for
the purpose or strengthening them
selves in taking advantage of the on
portunities of foreign competition. That
is very serious matter for this reason:
There are some corporations and some
hrms, Tor all i know, whose business is
great enough and whose resources are
abundant enough to enable them to cs
tabllsh selling agencies in foreign
countries. to enable them to extend the
long credits which In some cases are
necessary In order to keep the trade
they desire; which enables them. in
other words. to organize their business
In foreign territory in way which
the smaller man cannot afford TO do.