The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

None OF US know the exact state of
preparedness that exists In this country"
said Edward p. Case, a prominent manu-
tacturer of Minneapolis, stopping at the
Willard. There have been SO many con-
hicting statements" remark Mr.. Case,
that 1t Is almost impossible for any Of
us, except a very few, to say whether We
are prepared for the worst.
But you can rely on it that the busi-
ness men of this country have not been
idle. There is too much to lose, too many
lives to consider, and the consequences
Of an unprepared nation are too great.
This insane drama enacted by the Ger
mans only proves what some countries
are capable of, IL they think they can
take advantage of us. Germany's case
Is the saddest in history. 1t is the case
Of a nation caught in a raw act and try
Ing either to lie out of 1t or make a
bungling attempt to Justify their calcu-
lations.
1T is highly improbable that Germany
would have been so impudent with US
had she though the pacifists were as
crazy as We know they are. But we
have not been asleep. OF course, we have
not a big army, but we have the largest
force of trained mechanics in the world
and the fastest working factories on the
face of the earth. Wars are a matter Of
mechanics more than human flesh. 1t
do not believe we are there with the ma
chimes take a tour around.
America, the mother of nearly all val
liable inventions, can certainly produce
In an hour of need an invention to Offset
anything that may be sent against her.
"One thing we should be thankful for
Is that the present crisis has forced into
the limelight numbers Of men in whom
we would not have otherwise discerned a
yellow streak.
The slogan, Buy Goods Made in
America sounds all right, but does not
work out in practice" said r. w. Entz.
of New York, who is stopping at the
Raleigh. 1T Is apparent that we Ameri-
cans form a good market" said Mr..
Entz, "for European goods, because our
own American-made goods are over
priced.
1T is an old story and a true one that
American-made goods are exported
abroad and sold cheaper than we Amer
leans can buy them. And yet when a
load of foreign goods come to our shores,
and can undersell the American product,
high tariff men in Congress set up howl
that the country Is going to the dogs.
"If the meat packers and manufac-
turers would give the American consumer
a square deal they could get n few more
cents for their products and still save US
a great deal of money. Articles are sold
in Europe from one-fourth to one-half
what we in this country have to pay. The
best example of how We are being robbed
is the -four barrel. American -four can
be bought today in England. a country at
war and under blockade, for half what
we are forced to pay here.
There is hardly an article in daily
use of American make that cannot be
bought for less in Europe than in Amer
lea. With the exception of South Amer
lea, American goods are cheaper every
where except in America. A high tariff
Is all right II Congress will get after the
speculators and force them to quit hold
ing up the public. But after the war I
am afraid some OF these piratical gen.
tlemen are going to suffer; likewise the
public, which invariably pays all bills. "