Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-12-08

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The war has doubled the foreign
trade in the United States. For the
calendar year 1915 imports ana ex-
ports will total close to $4,000
100000, according to close camputa-
tion by the National City bank OF New
York. Before the war the total fell
q little short Of $4,000, 100000.
Everybody knows that the United
States is selling more abroad than it
ever sold before, but the fact IL not 80
we'll understood that we are import
ing more foreign merchandise than
we ever imported before. An erro-
neous impression lies IN the minds
of many that the war destroyed the
export trade OF the belligerents and
that Europe has little to sell in the
markets Of the United States. In
point OF fact the United States wall
import this year nearly $3.50, 600 900
more OF foreign merchandise than it
imported in 1915. Imports Tor this
calendar year viii be approximately
$4,000. O0O, 200 as against s1.77e..
100000 in the year 1916. Never
before had our imports reached So,
100000, 200 in any year.
When the war ends it is inevitable
that cur exports will slump. Eu-
rope viii cease abruptly the buy,
ing of munitions and other war sup
plies. For the nine months ended
September 80. according 10 figures
published last week BY the New York
Journal Of Commerce, we sold the
belligerents s500,0O0,O0O worth Of
explosives alone. Purchases OF other
war materials brought the total for
the nine months to sss7 $40, O0U !.
or more than Is per cent OK the
country'a export trade for the pc
Rod under review.
That trade will vanish with flash
with the ending OF the war and the
armies OF men and women now EN-:
ployed in the munitions factories OF
this country win find themselves out
OF work.
At the same time, though the
change will not be 50 abrupt. the bel.
ligsrent countries will shut down the
buying OF American food supplies
for the $4,000, 900 men now in the
great armies viii DO sent back to the
pursuits OF peace-to tilling the soil.
TO work In the mines and factories.
When that hour comes the indus.
tries Of this country will face a cri-
sic. Our exports will slump Off ana
unless We guard our markets with
protective tariff our imports win be
tremendously Increased.
II must be patent to every reflect
ing mind that II warning world. IN
a year Of war, can sell $3.50. 900. 900
more OF merchandise in the United
States than It sold In time Of peace,
we shall be flooded with cheap labor
products when the war Is ended ana
all Europe gathers herself for the in
evitable commercial war which ali
authorities agree Is surely coming
with the return Of peace.
With Germany totally cut off from
the markets OF the United States we
ara importing 1850 900 600 more Of
foreign merchandise than we import
ed in time OF peace When the war
IL ended Germany win again be free
TO push her goods in the markets of
the United States. and also to COM
pete sharply FOR the trade We now
enjoy with the neutral countries OF
Europe and South America.
Two factors account Tor the $780,
O00. 900 increase Of imports this year.
TIE war has brought increased d
duatfial efficiency 10 Europe and
Japan ana tho enactment o. the tree
trade Underwood tariff law save tAs