The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-26

know that we have just now don't
| what Is was commonsense to do about
| the tariff. We have not put this into
words, but do not hesitate to put II
into words. We have admitted that
on the side and on the other we were
without sufficient knowledge of the
facts on which we were acting and
Therefore, we have established what
is intended to be a nom partisan tarin
commission to study the conditions
with which legislation has to deal in
the matter of relations of American
with foreign business transactions.
VIII Look For Facts.
Il have never found a really cour
ageous man who was afraid to put
his opinion to the test of facts. or
a morally sincere man who was not
ready to surrender to the facts when
they were contrary to his opinion
And the tariff commission Is going to
look for the facts no matter who Is
hurt
THE thing that interests me most
about an association of this sort Is
that the intention of II is that the
members should share a common body
of information and study the problem
as II you were partners and brothers
and co-operators in this field of busi-
ness.
THAT has been going on in every
occupation In the United States Of any
consequence. Even the men that do
the advertising have been getting to-
gether, and they have made this start
ling and fundamental discovery that
the only way to advertise successfully
is to tell the truth.
The foreign field is full of combi-
nations meant TO be exclusive. but the
export business Is a very big business
and 1t ought to be possible. and 1t will
be possible and legal. for men engaged
in exporting to get together and man
age 1t In groups. so that they can
manage It at an advantage instead
of at disadvantage as combined with
foreign rivals.
And then there must be co-opera-
ton, not only between the government
and the business men. but between the
business men. Shippers must cooper
ate and they ought to be studying
right now how to cooperate. There
are great many gentlemen in other
countries who can show them how;
and they ought to look forward par
ticularly. to caring for this matter.
that they have vehicles in which to
carry their goods.
we must adopt ourselves. imme-
diately and as rapidly as possible to
the recreation of a great merchant
marine.
And 1t Is absolutely necessary to
make good our new connections with
the great and rich republics to the
south of us. For the first time in
my recollection they are beginning to
trust and believe in us and want US.
and one of my chief concerns has been
to see that nothing was done that
did not show friendship and good faith
on our part.
The real wealth of foreign rela-
tionships, my yellow citizens whether
they be the relationships of trade OF
any other kind OF intercourse. Is the
wealth of mutual confidence and free
dom.
If we do not understand them and
they do not understand us we cannot
trade with them. much less be their
friends, and 1t Is only by weaving
these intimate threads of connection
that we shall be able to establish that
freedom. hich Is after all the great
warp and woof OF trade itself
America has stood in the past for
that sort OF political understanding
among men which would let every
Hten feel that his rights were the
same as those of another and as good
as these of another. and the mission
of America in the field of worlds COM
merce is to be the same. that when
an American comes into that compe-
tition he comes without any arms that
would enable him to conquer by force,
but only with those peaceful influences
of intelligence desire to serve.
knowledge of what he is about before
which everything softens and yields
and renders itself subject.
That Is the mission of America, and
my interest. so far as my small part
in America Is concerned Is to lend any
bit of intelligence l have to this in
teresting, this vital all-important mat
ter of releasing the intelligence OF
America for the service of mankind"