The Detroit times., 1916-06-15
The United Americas.
~ DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)


There is little doubt that the passion
Lit by the great war will continue to
burn for many years in the dull embers
of economic hostility. Already England
and France and their allies are laying
plans for the suppression of German
trade expansion, and the Central powers
are arranging for free trade in Middle
Europe, including Germany, Austria, the
Balkans, and Turkey, and to shut out
the nations of the Entente.
Thus the dull stupidity of statesmen,
the Short-sight of greed, will perpetuate
trade war, which in time will probably
burst out again in the baneful bloom of
slaughter.
The outlook for America meanwhile Is
not very promising. We shall be the
most significant trade rival of both the
quarreling factions.
At least the most sensible thing we
could do is TO get together on this side of
the ocean. Why not an All-American
trade league?
Representative Warren Worth Bailey
of Pennsylvania has introduced bill
looking toward such league. 1t pro-
vides that on and after July, 1916, we
will admit free the products of any
American country which Will admit free
our products.
by passing this BILL" says Herbert
Quick, congress may establish a great
trade kingdom for the two Americas,
which would be based on friendship and
amity; fitting answer, and the only fit
ting answer, TO the old-world revivals of
the Napoleonic system of nations in arms
and empires based on hate"
We want Pan-American unity and
peace; the present administration, fol-
lowing consistently in the footsteps of
its predecessors since the days of Secre-
tary Of State Blaine, is assiduously cul-
tivating the friendship of the Latin
American republics; our bankers are en-
deavoring to extend the hand of capital,
which is the mother Of commerce, to
them; our business men are eagerly
seeking South American markets. every
body, from statesmen and college profess
sors TO manufacturers, is pulling strong
for Pan-Amercanism, for a frmer sense
of American solidarity.
Now, nothing stands in the way Of
friendly feeling between nations so much
as trade restrictions. Every custom
house is an apple of discord.
Whatever tends to untrammeled in
terchange of goods tends to take the
rasping edge from racial differences.
a move like this, touching as it does
the pocketbook, would give more force
to our protestations Of good will than
can be given by talk-fests, conferences,
and banquets.
The proposition ought to come from
the largest and richest American nation,
the United States.
Whatever may be the reasons for
maintaining commerce walls against
European countries, where rivalry with
our manufacturers is well developed and
vigorous, no such reasons as yet exist
in our relations with South and Central
America Manufacturers are feeble
there, and to strengthen and multiply
them would make for us of them better
and more profitable neighbors.
Most important Of all free trade on
the Western Hemisphere would help
break down the mountaineering notion
that nations are close business corpora
tions hostile one 90 another. Undoubted-
~ trade jealousy had its part in precipi-
tating the present calamity in Europe.
Why not now, in time, eliminate the
seed Of discord from the western world?
WHY NOT?
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