Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-30
Expert" Misinformation.

I'm the Philippines, of course, we
have the inside track, and in Australia
American cottons are very popular
declared W. A. Graham Clark, textile
EXPERT" to the United States TariH
Commission. in an address before the
Industrial Exposition and Export Con-
ference at Springfield, Mass, recently.
The speaker admitted that we had lost
a great deal of cotton goods trade IN
China as a result of Japanese under
selling, but closed with the comforting
assurance, II do not think that the end
Of the war will find a single country OF
Europe. not excluding England, as well
prepared for competition abroad as 1t
Was in 1913"
This administration has a remark
able lot Of experts" on its payroll.
Mr. Clark's statement in regard to our
sales OF cotton goods to the Philippines
tetrays the fact that he did not have
accurate information. The evidence OF
today is all to the effect that the
United States is losing this trade in
the Philippines. and that Japan is get
ting the inside track both there and in
Australia. The annual report OF the
chief Of the bureau Of customs OF the
Philippine Islands. for the fiscal year
1915. which, with true Democratic
form, makes its appearance one year
late. speaking of cotton manufactures
SAYS: While the United States con-
tinues to show the greatest amount in
value Of these commodities, the impor-
tations for the year 1915 declined in
value as compared with 1915" And he
then goes on TO show the material in
crease in the importation of Japanese
cotton goods.
This Japanese competition in the
Philippines certainly had something to
do with the fact that while our exports
OF cotton cloths to the islands in 1915
totaled nearly 1o7.0oo,o0O Yards the
amount for 1916 was but 100000
yards and the indications are that the
,
when available. will show no improve
ment Japanese competition in cotton
goods is of recent development, be-
cause II is only since the war started
that Japan has been in a position to
build up this industry to point where
II could give us run for our money
Of G
Oriental markets, and she is even bur
rowing into our own under the present
low tariff law.
AS for Mr.. Clark's remark about
England, his attention is called to the
fact that English expectations of cot
ton cloths to the American market are
100 per cent greater than they were in
1918. under protective rates; that her
exports of these same goods to South
and Central America have about
doubled in the last two years; and
that she is trained to the minute for
the capture Of markets when the war
is over.
II the United States wishes to share
In world trade after the war, we must
FIRST Of all be certain of controlling oul
own market-not give it away to for
eign competitors. Mr.. Clark let some
thing significant slip in this respect
when he said: In competing in neutra
markets the United States is to a GER
tain extent hampered by our highe,
scale OF living, and the higher wages
thereby necessitated."
Exactly. And the only way to offset
that is to guarantee. by protective
rates of duty, capacity operation anc
consequent low unit cost of production
TO our cotton factories, in order to ever
up the wage handicap. Can't any mar
with even the faintest glimmer OF in.
telligence, see the impossibility of do
ing this under a tariff policy which
presents the American cotton good.
market to Europe and Japan?
o