New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-30
FOLLOW THE FREE TRADE RULE
Let American Manufacturers Buy
Goods Where They Are Cheapest.

To the Editor OF ] ne lfDuhe'
Sir: Being reader Of The Tribune from
"Arst 70 last page, may express an adverse
opinion on your recent editorial on the coai
lar dyestuf situation, entitled Treat Circle
Statesmanship'?
Since The Tribune is pronounced advo
cate Of truth. and without doubt In my mind
forms its opinions out Of regard for inc
benefit Of the greatest number OF people,
ask: why should the American people
want their government TO set up an arbl-
trary bar 70 the entry Of German dyestuff'
when. according 20 common knowledge and
YOUR own statements. German manufacturers
can produce them cheaply as TO undersell
our own makers
II the American users Of dyestufs can, a
the close of the war; buy far cheaper abroad
thus lowering the costs Of production in a
great many industries and thus saving the
consuming public thousands of dollars In rs
duced prices of finished articles. what truth
is there in N. protectionist argument when
seeks 10 artifcially Create an industry
whereby few capitalists will gain a, the ex-
pense of all industries using dyestufs ana
the whole buying public? Is such pa
triotic" endeavor 10 encourage one portion
of American business consistent with the
ultimate dement, OF lfP IMMUNITY
believe not, and therefore suggest that
VIC adhere strictly 10 the natural law. upon
which Il seems TO me, all trade and com
merce should rest that goods should be pro-
duced wherever the adaptation or ability 20
grow. mine or manufacture most efficiently
and cheaply. is greatest. allowing natural
competition to determine that locality mos
peculiarly fitted for the production Of Ger
=. nj altov~irr N a nperpd trade
between nations 70 secure 10 al sections
Of the globe the goods produced by each
We have set up enough "tsr.f barons' IN
this country through our "coddling" OF "in-
FAINT industries" which, strangely enough.
never grow up once they have been set on
their feet b. tho aid Of tho government Al
least. they never admit that the tariff prop
is no longer needed 20 protect them.
or course. in this connection, we should
not fail TO reward justly those courageous
enough TO stake their capital in founding
such an industry as tho manufacture Of coal
tar dyestuffs, nor the scientists and research
EXPERTS who give their services in a crucial
period such as we have experienced since the
war began. But. rather than permanently
inhict high prices and inferior products on
The country and foster the corrupt lobbying
and bribery that inevitably accompany M
forests seeking special privileges under the
fuise Of "protection,' let us pay outright TO
the CAPITALISTS every penny invested in the
enterprise plus fair percentage on their IN
vestment. and let US pension the scientists
for their efforts.
heartily agree that Mr. Redfeld's plau
OF proceeding against the purchasers o.
dumped goods" is wrong and "circuitous.
q, Ill; hat
dvestuFs will be dumped" here after the
war? n So then believe me, American bust
ness men with keen sense OF economy II
purchasing may truthfuly be called dump
pickers" pardon the horrible e1pression)
and even a patriotic feeling for American
producers will not discourage them from
buylng what you choose 10 call dumped
Goods" My idea OF dumped goods is goods
that are not desired. Foreign goods come
here only through domestic demand. however.
and though the administration errs IN MOI
taking a strong stand for the benefit of tho
American people as whole, the most gro
tcsGue effort 10 suspend the law OF supply
and demand" Is that whereby protectionist5
ATTEMPT 10 thwart the legitimate purchases
i'm the fairest market, which is not that OF
this country alone, but Of the entire Forid
Do we consider the sale Of American oetro-
loum. motor cars. steel, etc, etc, In foreign
markets as "a competition intended to be
simply and solely destructive to the foreign
producers? II so, do we care? Then let u
applv the Golden Rule to our customs ports
which We will find is simply the natural la"
underlying universal free trade.
WHEELER CHATFIELD.
Ncw York. Oct. 26, 1915.