The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-06
ers and merchants have not been /


concerns so that the inefficient and
unfit trader shall he placed on an
equal footing with the efficient and
fit. The policies of legislation in the
field OF domestic business which have
been enacted by the direct fiat Of
the Wilson Administration have de-
spised business knowledge and bust
ness judgment. 1t In not surprising.
therefore, that the Administration
legislative policies for international
business are fabricated on the same
model, hut the principal commercial
nations with which we have to com
pete have u hard headed way of recog-
nlzing facts. They have no deusions
about the terms on which business
must be done. and American business
will prove no formidable competitor
in the worlds markets II It Is re-
stricted by soft headed paternalism
which seeks to make the strongest
wait for the weak.
The Presidents stand on the amend.
ment Of the antitrust laws for the
benefit of our export trade keeps the
! promise to the ear and breaks 1t TO
the hope of business men. lie Is for
amendment Of the laws to permit ex-
port trade combinations " producers
and merchants best equipped to ex-
tend our business In foreign markets
are deprived OF the advantages Of
organization, capitalization. skill and
efficiency which they have over do.
nestle rivals
His thought about foreign trade
when tested by the facts of interna-
tional commerce is on parity with
the Administrations conception of in
ternational political competition. We
must have an army for parade and
navy Of sorts to make a pretence OF
strength in the eyes OF other nations.
hut we must never be really prepared
to engage in military competition with
them. So, exactly, the Administration
seems to say that our business laws
may well appear to array us for eco
|
an appearance.
As one reads the Presidents Cham
Der of Commerce address, the more
clearly there Is disclosed the famil-
lar disheartening contrast between
| phra seology and facts in the contem.
porary political treatment of business
questions. The President Is doubtful
about antitrust law amendment to
permit export trade combinations be
cause a combination has a tendency to
exclusion. when n group of men get
control of n good thing" he says,
they do not see any particular point
in letting other people into the good
thing" If there are any combinations
to which his remarks on the subject
would apply IL Is the labor unions.
which are the most exclusive things
| in the United states to-day. Yet
President WILSON had no objection
to amendment of the antitrust laws
intended to strengthen labor union
monopoly.
IL
ness men are responsible II laws are
nacted essentially detrimental to bust
ness interests. "Men on the inside
of business know how business Is con
Quoted" he AYERS. land they cannot
complain II men on the outside make
mistakes about business, II they do
not come from the inside and give the
kind OF advice which Is necessary"
Yet when business men sought to
advise Congress about the tariff the
White House shouted Lobby !" at
hem. It shouted Lobby e. when husl-
ness experience offered counsel tn
Congress while 1t was celebrating The
antitrust laws and interstate COM
merce acts The expert advice of the
cotton exchanges was contemptuously
rejected when the cotton futures act
was framed and passed. The bankers
who ventured suggestions In the prog
ress Of banking and currency legisla
ton we're called conSpirators. and the
cry Of Conspiracy" has been raised
in Washington against the business
criticism Of the Administration ship
ping bill.
Probably from such n record ms the
Administration has made il could not
be expected that In turning Its at
tention to foreign trade 1t would con-
template constructive legislation with.
out Gripping prohibition; that It
would advance n positive programme
which would he anything but one
great qualifying negation. Under the
competitive economic conditions which
have been esta bill shed In international
commerce large organizations pos
Sessed of large capital are indispen-
sable to realization of trade oppor-
tunity All that President WILSON
seems to favor in the nature of legal
sanction for export trade combina-
lions Is n statute designed to force
the tit American business man to de-
clare dividends of his advantages to
the unnt.