The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-05

informed regarding the basic INDUS
tries OF the country, to be present in
France during the course Of the peace
conference and available for counsel
on such phases of the peace negotia-
tons as may bear directly upon COM
merce and industry? II such a group
would be useful great care would be
taken to select men having the largest
vision and the most generous impulses
in connection with the resumption OF
Industrial activity throughout the
world
Mr. Wilson's reply said:
You may be sure that would send
a message to the meeting at Atlantic
City II knew what message 70 send
but frankly I do not. II Is time
when we must all thoughtfully take
counsel and apply the wisest action &c
circumstances as they arise.
II am, of course. engrossed with
preparations for leaving for the other
side. 1 hope that you will extend my
warmest greetings TO those who will
assemble at Atlantic City"
Problem IL to Readjust.
Mr.. Wheeler said that statistics
had been compiled for tho use OF the
peace conferees showing the Amer
lean Industrial situation, and that
while the President may have had in
mind an Industrial commission ia
counsel with him on the subject his
letter was silent on the point. Mr.
Wheeler thought the problem In this
country was one Of readjustment
rather than Of reconstruction.
The ideal of service, Secretary Red
Held maintained, must be the actual
ing influence behind our foreign trade
policy In the future. and no thought
OF commercial prestige or domination
must be allowed to conflict with this
ideal. Any attempt to take advantage
OF the international situation now by
grasping the commerce Of the world
he declared, would be just as iniqui-
tous as was Germany's effort to gain
economic supremacy with the backing
OF military force.
Commerce, II 1t is to stay" he said
must be a constructive force and
never a destructive thing. We must
serve the world II we are to be on a
safe foundation ourselves. The mere
entering a foreign market by force of
cut prices. or Of Off quality goods. or
by dumping or by untruthful adver-
Using, or by force of Government aid
or political power is in no true sense
commerce, nor will It last. We must
learn the evil lesson from those whose
power we have destroyed. We must
carry the flag as high In the CONNER
Cial world aa xua haye "a rv-iad u haforo
our armies. 1t means that we are go
Ing to play the game like gentlemen
and make our methods such as shall
survive because they render service.
Must Win Upon Merit.
THAT means that We must sell
goods that others want and not unload
those OF which we would like to be rid
ourselves. II means that we must
win upon our effectiveness. not upon
our hustle: that we must carry our
business far because II Is right that II
should 60 far upon its own merit. II
means lot of forgetting and a lot OF
learning on the part Of many OF us"
The United States must not only be
ready to supply its allies with the
eONuS hhSy tICCu W iCSciota ~
ton possible, Mr.. Redfield asserted
but It also must play the part Of the
tolerant creditor and extend to them
additional financial aid 40 that they
will be able to purchase these goods.
80 we have to feed many and In
large measure furnish them materials
and machinery and equipment 10 start
life anew" said Mr.. Redfield.
The continuation Of Government
control over certain exports. Secretary
Redfield suggested, may be necessary
in order to supply the devastated
countries of Europe with the raw ma
terials they most need and to main
tain our soldiers abroad. The neces-
sity for this continued restriction, he
added, is intensified by the inadequacy
OF shipping facilities.
IF It Is permitted to me to urge a
few words of practical advice to Amer
lean industry at this juncture should
say beware of the temptation hastily
to lay rash hands upon wages. Con-
centrate thought, purpose and effort
on output. Find and seize hold upon
all science has said and can say con-
corning industry. 1t was largely be-
cause Germany made her industries
the operating end OF her sciences that
her commerce grew 80 fast and power
full in the years before the great war"