The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-31
The following article from the


Washington Observer is worthy OF
careful consideration by every Ameri-
can manufacturer. The value of ex-
port business to the manufacturer Of
the United States is matter that has
only recently been taken up by the
American manufacturer and then US
ually only by the larger concerns
whose prodrrts are not manufactured
abroad or at least only to a limited
extent. The smaller manufacturer
has heretofore been kept busy sup
plying the home market and has not
had the value of the foreign business
impressed upon him, SO that in a time
Of business depression like the pres.
ent, when he would be glad to have
business from any source, the lack of
knowledge of the needs OF foreign
countries and their methods of doing
business is a very severe handicap
and prevents the American manufac.
turer from taking advantage of
very unusual opportunity to sell his
goods.
However. now is the time to push
American goods in foreign markets
and larger part of the business Sc
cured now will be kept, even after
peace has been restored:
1.-THE MATTER WITH AMERICA"
A scathing arraignment of Ameri-
can business men for alleged lack of
enterprise and confidence in promot-
Ing the foreign trade of the United
States by advertising and aggressive
craftsmanship was made in a letter re-
ceived by a firm of Philadelphia
bankers, last week from Herbert N.
Casson, a London correspondent. Mr..
Casson is himself an American. He
said:
What is the matter with the
United States? AS have been resid-
ing in London since the beginning of
the war, have been hearing the ques-
ton asked on all sides. l have never
heard any satisfactory answer. No
one seems to know.
why are the American factories,
not running night and day? Why are
the railroads not opening up new terri
tories and getting ready for the mill
Hons OF immigrants who have already
made up their minds to leave Europe
Us soon as the war is over?
why are there not so American
drummers in London right now trying
to sell 5000, 100000 worth of American
goods in place of the goods that were
bought last year from Germany and
Austria?
Why have advertisers become
cutters just at the time when
their advertisements were most
needed and most effective in
cheering on the business forces of
the United States?
From the European point OF
view, the United States is haven
of peace and security and pros
perity. 1t has no troubles that it
dares to mention to Belgium or
Austria or France or Germany or
Servia or Great Britain or Russia.
Every tenth Briton has enlisted.
Every tenth Frenchman is at the
front. Every tenth Belgian is
dead. What does the United
States know about trouble?
II I could afford 1t, would char
ter the Mauritania, and the Lusi-
tania and convey a party of 5000
American advertisers to Europe
for trip of education. l would
give them a week in London,
week in Paris and week in Ant
werp.
81 would let them look at the Unit
ed States from the scene of war. /
would give them look at real
trouble. I would let them see trains,
10 at time. for five minutes apart.
packed with the MANNED and dying.
II would let them hear, from frag-
mentary survivors, the incredible
story of battlefields $50 miles wide
and armies that are greater than the
entire population of Texas.
IT would let them see graves 100
country that was, nothing now but
10000 square miles of wreckage