The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-08
Declares the President Of the
Chamber of Commerce Of
City of Paris.

Sh'NaNfiSSN w w W
City of Paris.
PARIS, May S.-"The United States
need not fear being used by France as
Il dumping ground for products to be
sold at sacrifice after the war" Is
the opinion Of Monsieur David-Men-
ret. president Of the chamber OF COM
merce of Paris and an important man
IN the French cotton industry.
French goods" Monsieur David
Mennet observes, "are generally so
we'll made that they must be sold dear.
II you have seen French mechanics
or artisans at work you have noticed
that II is as natural 10 them TO give
TO their product the precision and
tasty finish that Characterize our pro-
auctions as It is for them to so
through any of the details OF daily life
that have become second nature to
them. You may have noticed that even
the clerks in shops take infinite pains
in doing up the most tritling pack
ages: they may have tried your pa
tience. but TO them II is only natural
TO hold on to the package until II re-
SpbihFs W u NAlNiNhl lhNh VI W hn1 30
presentable. Ii is the same with all
workmen in France; articles don't
leave their hands until they can tako
pride in them. When we find II nee
essary to make things cheaply. we
are Obliged to import the labor to do
1t. Such products were never spec
iali2ed in any branch and what we
made with imported labor was never,
so far as ! know, exported at loss
before the war. | have no reason to
believe that 1t will be done after the
war; we shall no doubt have exhaust
ed our stocks and have TO begin prac
tically anew in such branches OF man
ufacture.
"For the moment the great manu-
featuring district OF the north is elm
mated; every machine that was worth
moving has disappeared from the fac
tories and must be replaced after
peace is declared. The new installa-
lions will require considerable time
and in the meantime the industries of
the interior will no more than suffice
for home needs.
New Law Required.
France will also be exposed TO
dumping since our customs tariff is
specific instead of ad valorem. 1t will
require new law as with you to
raise barrier against 1t. For us 1t
will not be SO important perhaps, be-
cause other measures will prevent
commercial Entertainments after the
war by our adversaries. For America,
no doubt, the proposed protective leg
islation is excellent, and 1t will not be
material to France because. as | have
already said, France has no trash 10
dump anywhere. will qualify that
statement to this extent-in our spec
ial industries such MS hats and other
articles Of fashion, styles often change
suddenly and stocks of goods out of
style remain on hand. These are often
sold at reduced prices, but ! doubt II
they arc ever offered at less than the
cost Of the manufacture.
"A certain misrepresentation has pre-
vailed as to how the Germans were
able TO compete with home products in
foreign countries. 1t was not be-
cause they could produce cheaper. A
number Of the German specialists are
nearly twice as dear to make in Ger
many as in England. yet they exported
them and competed in prices. This
was possible because the profit on
goods sold at home was sufficient to
enable the sacrifice of surplus produc-
ton abroad. This custom OF German
manufacturers followed for years be-
fore the war may properly be called an
established continual system OF
dumping; after the war. II they have
products to throw upon foreign mar
kets, It will be no change whatever in
their system. ! do not think, however,
that they will have such an accumula-
ton OF products of this class as is APP
pretended. Their industries are large
ly centered on the manufacture OF
munitions Of war. AS for he others,
they obtain raw materials with diff
Guilty and must now find considerable
difficulty in keeping their forces of
workmen up to the point where their
production can more than satisfy the
home demand.
German Advantage.
THE Germans have always had the
advantage OF a superior intelligence
department operating in every country
in the world through It's emIgrated
workmen and Office employees.
Wages will probably be higher
after the war;" NJ. Davld-Mennet
thinks, land there will be a conse-
quent increase in the cost OF manu-
featured goods. but l don't think the
advance will apply to raw materials
for the reason that fixed charges and
general expenses apply TO them in SO
much slighter measure than to manu-
featured goods"
The cotton industry, in which NJ.
David-Mennet is particularly interest
ed he says has recovered very well
from the effect OF the first conditions
OF the war, excepting in the case of
the few spinning mills established in
the invaded regions. Commerce in
luxuries has also made great gains,
he says. but not so much as commerce
in products Of current consumption
which in spite of the war, partly be-
caIisa NJ ~ Ia about pnrr,aI