The Washington times., 1915-02-04
PRESIDENT URGES
TRADE COOPERATION
Evils Of "Combination," How.
ever, Must Not Creep In, He
Tells Trade Men.

President Wilson is looking for a
method Of cooperation in extending
American foreign trade that will not
bring with it the evils Of Combination -
as that term is generally interpreted.
He made this clear In an address be-
fore the Chamber Of Commerce Of the
United States at the Willard last night
and frankly asked the business men be-
fore him for their advice, adding that
he expected to find such a method pos
sible. The President also sounded a
ish advantage Of the nations now at
war and said that the commerce of this
country should be extended Just as
though the rest of the world was nor
NAL
Attorney General Gregory, Secretary
Of Agriculture Houston, and Secretary
Of Labor Wilson were present, as we're
two Of the Presidents daughters. Mrs.
McAdoo and Miss Margaret Wilson.
I Foreign Competition.
There IL a specific matter about
which I, for one, want your advice
said the President. what am think
ing Of is competition in foreign markets
as between the merchants Of different
nations.
I'VE ought to eliminate all that
thought from our minds and consider
ttons OF the world were in the normal
circumstances Of commerce. There Ia a
normal circumstance Of commerce In
which we are apparently at disadvan-
tage.
Our antitrust laws apparently make
It illegal for merchants In the United
states to form combinaticns for the
purpose of strengthening themselves in
taking advantages OF the opportunities
OF fcreign competition.
That Is very serious matter for
this reason: There are some corpora
tions and some firms, for all I know,
whose business is great enough ana
whose resources are abundant enough
to enable them to establish 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 en-
able them. In other words. to organize
their business In foreign territory in a
way which the smaller man cannot af-
ford to do. His business has not grown
BIZ enough to permit him to establish
selling agencies. The export commits
sion merchant. perhaps. taxes him a
little bit too high to make that All
Quoting and extending his business. The
question arises. therefore, how are the
smaller merchants. how are the younger
and weaker corporations. going to get
which are permitted and even encour-
aged bv foreign governments in this
very field Of competition?
Encourage Combinations.
There are governments which, as
YOU know, distinctly encourage the for
nation Of great combinations in any
particular field of commerce. In order
to maintain selling agencies and to ex-
tend long credits. and to use and main
tain the machinery which is necessary
for the extension of business. American
merchants feel that they are at very
considerable disadvantage in contend
ing against that. The matter has been
many times brought to my attention,
and I have each time suspended judE-
ment. because In this matter Il am
from Missouri" and want to be
shown this: I want to be shown how
that combination can be made and con-
Quoted in a way which won't close it
against the use Of everybody who wants
to use it.
"A combination has a tendency to eX-
clude new members When group of
men got control OF good thing they do
not see any particular point In letting
other people into the good thing. What
! would like very much to be shown.
therefore, Is method of cooperation.
which is not a method Of combination,
not that the two words are mutually
exclusive, but we have come to have a
special meaning attached to the word
combination. Most Of our combinations
have a SAFETY, lock. and you have to get
the combination to get In. l want to
know how these cooperative methods
can be adopted for the benefit of every
body who wants to use them, and |
say frankly. If can be shown that.
am for them.
If cannot be shown that, | am
against them, and hasten TO add that
! hopefully expect that I can be shown
that. You, as / have just now inti-
mated. probably cannot show 1t to me
offhand but by the methods which you
have the means of using you certainly
ought to be able to throw a vast deal
OF light"