The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-06
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
IN 70 RIM A TON
Blu RE A
Washington. d. C.
BUSINESS ON A PEACE BASIS.
u.-Our New Infant Industries.

washington ID. C., Dec. $40 DE,
or not to be, is the question that is
agitating several of our new American
industries, now that the war is over.
Will they be able to hold the trade
especially the foreign trade-that was
so easy to obtain while the European
factories were busy turning out war
material? Or will the old, effective
competition of European manufac-
turers, made possible by a lower
standard of wages, rise to snuff out
the lives of these hopeful but handi-
capped American infants?
Since the war, many things have
been made in America that were never
madfe here before. Moreover, Ameri-
can goods are being used in foreign
markets formerly supplied entirely
by German factories. For the period
of the war, at least, the world has
looked to us for manufactured neces-
stiles as well as raw materials. But
now the European factories are rap
idly reorganizing on commercial
basis. Foreign agents are already So
Letting their old trade. This means
that within the next year there must
either be a great retrenchment in
number Of American industries, or
fight to hold the markets won during
the war.
American manufacturers are watch
ing with interest the growing produc-
ton of the emergency fleet corpora
ton which is doing everything in its
power to provide a large American
merchant marine for the expedition OF
our foreign trade. Also, the renewed
activity of the bureau of foreign do
nestle commerce, which is asking con-
gress for the money to employ twenty
new commercial attaches to promote
American trade opportunities in for
eign countries. The fact that num-
Der of new consulates are to be opened
in various parts Of the world in an
ticipation of the future great expan-
sion of American commerce is also
heard with interest But perhaps the
most interesting thing to American
manufacturers is their own view of
the question. This was freely ex-
pressed in answer to QUESTIONABLE
recently sent out by the United States
tariff commission to the owners Of
American glassware factories.
The glassware industry was selected
by the tariff commission because it
is representative of several industries
that have shown phenomenal growth.
since the war. The manufacture of
bottles, window glass, bowls and COB
let's in this country dates from the
colonialxperiod; that of pressed table,
ware, such as tumblers, began in 1927;
plate glass in 1852, and lamp chin.
neys in 1855. While these forms of
American glassware have always en-
joyed a large demand from the Ameri-
can public. it was not until the war
that they became popular abroad.
Since the outbreak of the war. more
over. twelve new kinds of glassware
are being manufactured in this coun-
try-namely, optical glass, laboratory
or chemical ware, glass gauge tubing,
watch crystals. glazing glass, oven
glass. glass brick, siphon bottles, pho
togrs phic glass, and high-grade pic
ture glass and glass for spectacles.
Prior to the war, all optical glass
used in this country was imported
most of it from Germany. Only a
relatively small quantity of this glass
is bought, of course (about a hundred
thousand dollars worth a year,, but
when the United States entered the
war the need for field glasses, range
finders, periscopes and searchlights,
created a tremendous demand for op-
teal glass in the army and navy.
Optical glass had to be made in this
country-and made quickly. The geo.
physical laboratory Of the Carnegie
Institution at Washington was called
upon for aid in the production of this
glass; scientists from the laboratory
were stationed at the plant of a we'll
known American optical company,
and after several months of expert
ment the glass was successfully pro-
duced.
After much experimentation, other
forms of glass that had always been
imported from Europe were made in
this country. One of the most i'm
portant of these was chemical glass,
which is absolutely necessary for the
testing and analysis of materials and
products used in many of our most
important industries. The manufac-
ture of Photographic glass, also, was
necessary to the business of pho
Biography. which, was cut off from its
European base of supplies. This
seems to be one branch of the glass
industry which does not fear any flu
ture competition from Europe since
in the opinion OF the manufacturers,
they are making better Photographic
glass today than was ever produced
by the hand-biowing method in any
other country.
The history of the glassware indus
try since the war is the history of
many other American industries now
| sharing the common fear of Euro
pean competition when the factories
of Europe stop manufacturing NUM-
tons and return to their old business.
1t Is not the quality of the European
products they fear, but the lower
price. Foreign factories pay their
workmen lower wages and can there
fore afford to sell their products
cheaper. Thus, while the following
replies to the QUESTIONABLE of the
tariff commission are exclusively from
glassware manufacturers, they may be
said to speak for the manufacturing
world in general. The following are
lile 1dCtCTS relleO upon by several
manufacturers for the retention of
4-their foreign trade: tThe tariff COM
mission assumes no responsibility for
the opinions).
Laws permitting organization
among manufacturers for export
trade. Good service. Liberal COM
mercial terms. Consistent efforts to
supply the type of goods required in
| that particular market
Am American merchant marine
1 a n al a$.c %
| those in use in foreign countries will
be necessary to hold and develop ex-
| port trade after the war
3.-Modern factories, sanitarily ar
ranged, mechanically equipped, scien-
tific methods of production by auto
matte machines. Improved methods