The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-10-20
a Rettfieldian Pnnacea.

or all the unique economic pro-
Iposals which have come from officers
of the present Democratic admins
tratfon, Secretary Redfie1d's latest
attempts to help American business is
the most unusual, declares the Amer
lean Industrial for October. We are
startled at the stretches of ina gina-
ton the secretary INDUCES in.
Ethics, he thinks. is the proper weap-
on for American manufacturers to
use against their foreign compete
tors. Not, OF course, the common
garden variety. but ethics backed by
the power and influence of the United
States consular service. He comedies
that in fighting foreign competition
the tariff might seem to be the
simplest and easiest way" but Sim
pie methods he scorns and suggests
that. we resort to the following:
II foreign countries attempt to
ship goods into this country at
greatly reduced prices, our consular
agents could demand the right to
investigate the means of producing
the commodity; to see IL the manu-
facturer were; selling at a flower price
than he should.
IF the agents were refused the
right to make such an Investigation
the American consuls could then re-
fuse to sign the manifests and the
products could never leave the ports
for the United States
So at last we have a substitute for
the tariff. The United States govern
ment. through the medium Of its con-
sular agents. Is to regulate the
price Of foreign-made goods. Con-
Lsular agents, with all Of their bust
ness wisdom, are to determine the
selling price of foreign commodities
destined for export to this country.
and II they are too low, refuse to
sign the necessary manifests. Aside
from the question of what is too high,
or what is too low, which any con-
sular agent can decide off hand there
are other obstacles in the way to
effectively utilizing the secretary's
plan.
notwithstanding the efforts Of the
labor group In Congress; and the pro-
visions of the seamen's act, we still
force with friendly nations. These
nations might not. there is remote
possibility. take kindly to the scheme.
ut might be thought that American
consuls were interfering with the
Legitimate trade OF their people and
Violating treaties with this country.
Hut since treaties seem to be lightly
regarded by American lawmakers
and could be abrogated with due no.
tice. this might not prove serious
But there are still other method,
OF redress left to our foreign com,
tpatjtors. They might retaiiate and
fmpower their consuls to investigate
the methods OF Manufacture In The
United States, and determine whethe,
American prices: were. reasonable
! Surely there could be mo- objection
to this. since sauce for the goose /.
Esauce for the gander.
Unfortunate the secretary's schem,
will not do. It Is too Redfieldiar
and lacks something Of the customer,
thoroughness Of plans affecting oul
4 international relations. There SEEM
not to have been given 1t the atten
I ton to detail which characterized
j the report Of pottery manufacturing
and the controversy with the Penn
sylvania Manufacturers Association
y OF course the scheme ID not to b,
condemned outright without trial
but we venture to predict that It will
not work. American business mel
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