The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-29
COMMERCIAL
PREPAREDNESS
Get Ready for Slump After War
Orders Are No More.
Advocates Team WOrk-Fac-
tory, Merchant, Investor.
CONDEMNS FOREIGN POLICY
Protects Foreign Trade Rivals,
but Not Our Own.
Tariff Must Be RemOdeled to
Give L. 5. Square Deal.
CONDEMNS FOREIGN POLICY

New Orleans, Jan. 29.-Predicting a
period OF ''feverish activity in this
country during the continuance OF the
war, and upon its close a prostration
Of the industry and commerce of all
countries. Alba b. Johnson, president
of the Baldwin locomotive works. in
the opening address at the third Ma
tiOual FOreisn Trade convention in
New Orleans today emphasized the ne
ceSsity for a truly national fOrelsn
trade policy which would prepare the
United states for the keeuer compe-
tition expected to prevail in the world
markets after the war. He said.
1t viii be necessary FOR Us TO learn
team work by which is u-eant cOrre-
lation of the efforts or manufacturer
merchant, banker and Investor Hlth-
erto our bankers have been reluctant
10 enter the field Of foreign finance
commission houses have too frequent
" been free-lances. pushing trade
along the lines of least resistance or
not in such a way as 20 create per-
manent and reliable trade. our man
ufacturers have had to fight single
handed for their foreign trade. and it
is wonderful how well they have sue
ceeded in view of the conditions OF
competition which they had had 10
meet.
: Great Benefit.
The creation Of the federal trade
commission must prove to be of great
benefit to our manufacturers and eX-
porters. IL is studying with minds Tree
from prejudice the complicated PROP
Lens which affect our export trace
and I am sure they viii remove any
doubts as TO the rights OF Am orleans
to arrange for combinations for for
eign trade such as are lawful for their
competitors Of other nations.
Mr.. Johnson called attention 10 the
possibility OF economic alliances
among those countries which had
united their fortunes for war. and
uron the possible adverse effect of
such policies upon the trade Of the
United States.
cooperative foreign effort would
keep our factories running at 100 per
cent Of capacity" said NJ. A. Oudin,
manager of the foreign department OF
the General Electric company, OF
Schenectady. y. Y, In an address be-
lore the national foreign trade con-
Vention here today
Cooperate for Foreign Trade
since export cooperation would
lower the cost of distribution. and by
the added output. the cost of produce
ton as we'll" Mr.. Oudiu argued, the
home consumer in consequence would
benefit to the extent that the man
ufacturers were able TO reduce their
unit cost"
THE actual situation confronting
American exporters is that there exists
in QUE statute books federal laws
which prohibit cooperation. although
intended solely for the prosecution of
the export trade OF this country said
Nj. Cudin.
"'rhe serious handicaps confronting
our international trade in meeting new
conditions can be overcome. and
Nerv important impulse to our foreign
commerce can be impaired by the
creation of a widespread interest in
and the formation of export orga MIA
tions and combinations and other
forms of cooperative effort
Unless the restraining laws are
modified 50 as to exclude their apph-
cation to export trade, cooperative
measures by American manufa cturers
for meeting the new international con-
ditiOns after the war will not be prac-
ticable and must largely remain in the
region OF the theoretical discussion
Foreign Rivals Combine
The smaIle- American manufactur-
ers should be allowed to combine in
order to create a demand for their
products in foreign markets accord
ing to L. s Smith OF the American
Laundry Machinery company of Gin
cinnati. who addressed the Third Ma
tional Foreign Trade convention here
today.
Some plan must be worked out by
the smaller American manufactur-
erS,' he said. which will permit of
their forming of associations for Gre
ating foreign demand for their prod
ucts before they may nope to share
more largely the benefits of foreign
trade
The handicap which certain phases