The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-06
Branch Houses Can't Import
Goods From U. S. A.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS- IN Vain
Failure Inevitable, Report 20
Per Cent Foreign Houses.
Typewriter Firm, 21a Millions
Invested, selves Up Ghost"

nearly year and half the
American business men and firms
in Germany, cut off almost en-
tirely from the goods with which
they do business, have been max
ing desperate but comparatively
unorganized efforts to stave off
the ruin that has been staring them
in the face. Some have tried 70 inn
port stocks surreptitiously while others
have attempted by curtailment and
economy to weather the storm. But,
just as steadily as they have curtailed,
just SO steadily has England frightened
its blockade, until today the man VINO
receives a shipment of anything that
is nome ntraband is envied of all his
fellow American business men.
The situation became UNNECESSARILY
worse last year when the facilities OF
the parcels post no longer were wall
able. More than one firm had eked
out its existence by this means.
Wireless to Congress.
After year and a half more or less
feeble effort at concerted action has
been made. This has consisted of
wireless appeals to congress and 10 in
dividual congressman, through the
American Association of Commerce
and Trade" praying for some action.
An Associated Press correspondent
made a canvass of the larger Amefl-
can establishments in Germany-eS-
Establishments which for the most part
which not only are gradually losing
their German and Austrian business
but also before the war dealt with
Germany's present opponents, and
with Russia, France, Italy, Belgium
and other countries.
Hold Back Orders
The list included the largest type
writer company in the world, the
largest dental supply firm in exist
ence, the biggest shoe company, in
point of sales of American goods, in
Germany, large adding machine cor
poration, a well known elevator ran
ufacturing concern, one of the largest
manufacturers of toilet articles in
america and other smaller concerns,
but no attempt was made to determine
the possible losses of establishments
dealing in contraband.
Many millions of dollars worth of
goods either have been held up or,
though needed, have not been ordered
because of the impossibility of getting
them. Many more millions of invested
capital probably will be lost complete
Iy, in the opinion of their investors, if
there is not speedy remedy.
Women and children's shoes, it is
contended, are not contraband. Yet
the American shoe men in Germany
despair of ever being able to get any
more because they assume that Eng
land withholds these articles on the
Germany must apply a considerable
proportion of its leather stock TO up
ply its civilian population. With
American shoes for women and chill
dren this leather could be used for col
diers' footwear.
Leases Give Trouble.
Almost without exception the prin-
cipal firms here find themselves with
long term leases on their hands.
Though they face the necessity Of
shutting up shop" within a snort
time their rents must be continued
long as they have the money to pay
them All have had to discharge en-
ployees, and all have been hamDered
by losing men who have been drawn
into the army One adding machine
company has reduced its subsidiary
concerns from eighty to twenty.
The only American firms which
have not reached an almost hopeless
stage are those-principally the man
ufacturers of farming machinery
which have plants here in Germany,
and which therefore are largely indie
pendent of imports. Many of these
are said to be prospecting by diverting
temporarily their activities to the pro-
duction af ammunition.
Seven Gut of Ten See Failure.
Possibly seven out of every ten
American business men have little
hope that the situation is to be or can
be remedied-
A typical example of the crippled
American business enterprise in Ger
many is the largest shoe firm handling
American goods in the empire. This
firm, according to it's proprietor, does
on the average a business of half a
million dollars year 1t maintains
stores in Berlin. Frankfort-on-the
Main, and in Hamburg. In August,
1914, the firm had an order for $780,
900 worth of shoes placed in New
York-an order which never has been
delivered. When it became evident
that direct, or indirect, shipments
were impossible it resorted to the par
cells post. In driblets it has received
up to date about $4,000 worth of
goods. In normal times the stores
would have imported 100000 worth
ow goods,
The largest American typewriter
company in Germany has an invest
ment here of about two and half
million dollars, and after eighteen
months of war has given up the
ghost"