Evening star., 1915-12-19

lishment is typical illustration of the
manner in which Germany in the past
quarter OF century has built up her
export trade: She went at the problem
scientifically, and she found the So
luton In intelligent cooperation. Now
that the attention Of this nation is be-
coming more concentrated on foreign
trade. our own need for greater CO.
clearly manifest.
While in several lines the great
growth of the corporate manufacturers
has given US organisms which substi-
tute perfectly for cooperation, in other
lines our manufacturers must cooper
ate If they are ever to be felt in the
foreign markets.
President Wilson clearly pointed to
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States, February 3, 1915.
He then said:
7 want to know how cooperative
At of everybody who wants to use
them, and I say frankly that If I can
be shown that, I am for them. If
cannot be shown that. I am against
expect that can be shown that"
In line with this demand, a number
of agencies in the United States are
now paying very serious attention to
of devising methods which shall be
within the antitrust laws and at the
same time give the small manufac-
turer an equal chance in the foreign
markets. The most elaborate investi-
cation of this sort is that being con-
Quoted by the federal trade commission.
Agents for the commission have
visited South America, and it is ex-
pected that in the near future the COM
mission will send its representatives to
Europe to study foreign trade CO.
operation there.
X
The interest which American manu-
facturers have in the subject is clearly
shown in the investigation of the fed
eral trade commission as it has pro-
ceeded thus far. Nearly 10000 Ameri-
can manufacturers have written to the
commission giving their ideas on the
subject. Nearly all of these opinions
favor cooperation, although some are
opposed to it. A number of those who
have written are manufacturers pos
sessing large export trade already, and
they are among the most enthusiastic
for cooperation.
One machinery manufacturer who ex-
ports extensively to Europe wrote that
he believes cooperation will overcome
the deficiencies of the American manu-
lead to successful foreign trade. An
other man urged cooperation of lum-
ber manufacturers to obtain better
ocean freight rates. better rates of in
surance, more publicity for products
and for developing a market for oy-
products. A wire produceS wrote: Our
observations Of the export situation
have shown us that cooperative or
ganizations are almost a necessity"
One of the most interesting letters
received by the commission was in
part. the following:
I'VE have tried many times to do
business in South America as we'll as
the orientJ~For a small concern this is
an utter@ impossibility. We have an
exasperating experience with port du-
ties. consul fees, fines for improper
wording of bills of lading, improper
boxing, improper net and gross weights
and cubic contents and dimensions.
I'VE are satisfied that these things
as well as the financing of export op-
erations can only be taken care of by
large organizations equipped for the
purpose"
Most of the manufacturers who op-
pose cooperation or are lukewarm on
the subject are men whose business or
ganizatfons are large enough to Justify
them in maintaining their own sales
agencies abroad. They argue, and per-
haps rightly. that the individual firm,
with its own branch in foreign mar
ket, can do more for itself than If it
benefits from a joint selling agency.
II ia the intention of the com m Ssion