Evening journal., 1919-10-21
An AMERICA rRsT MEASURE.

ssTHE smoot bin lcyyns prohbi'Iyo Tariffs on for
eign merchandise dumped in the United States
is a step in The right direction with the foot firmly
planted" the assertion made by the Republican Pub
lclly Association today in statement given out through
the President Of that organization Hon. Jonathan Bourne
Jr The statement continues;
Senator smoot IS Republican who knows how TO
put a wallop In legislation There Is qubblng or
lodging issues academic wris-slappng about his
measure Any competing nation which attempts crooked
merchandising in the markets OF The United States goes
up against tariff rate that win put II TO sleep in the
first round And dumping is crooked merchandising
when it is pracced II has been in the past by certain
European governments, particularly Germany.
There Is wide distinction between dumping and
marketing in foreign countries surplus at prices less
than those exaced for given commodities in the country
of their origin Take shoes for example whose styles
changing from year TO year The manufacturers find
that they have over-esmaed The domestic market and
a surplus remains hand which they must dispose Of
they market them abroad at what they get usually
at prices below secured in the home market But
the home people not hurt by that or surplus Of
hosiery may be marketed abroad at reduced prices with
a view TO establishing trade in that market Or If the
manufacturers deliberately produced surplus for foreign
trade the home folks not injured but on The con
rary they benefited for this means the operation OF
the mills at maximum capacity which insures minimum
unit cost Jobs for the workmen; greater consump-
ton OF raw materials. Lower unit cost under system
Of fair dealing OF means decrease In The price
TO the home consumer.
The German system Of dumping, which has also
been pracced considerably by The British in the past
Is to manufacture the express purpose Of sitting
infant industries foreign countries in the cradle. For
example when our textile industries were started years
ago the Manchester textile manufacturers nauguraied
campaign prlce-culting in The United states calculated
TO Kill the industry here They raised huge sum Of
money for that purpose They sold cloths at prices far
under those demanded OF Eugish buyers at home and,
more than that. the losses sustained by this campaign
were recouped by adding TO the home prices to the Eng
lsh consumers. And The Germans have done The same
thing in chemicals and machinery year or so before
the war American sewing machines were finding foot
hold in Latin-Amercan countries which greatly per-
turbed the German makers. They sent their statesmen
into those countries with instructions to give away, If
necessary the German machines until the American
chimes driven out OF the field The expenses Of that
campaign were by increasing the home prices
and when the American business had been driven out Of
the Latln-American countries the price Of the German
machines was raised TO a point which would cover all
past losses This is crooked merchandising and ofense
against economic Those who engaged in IL have
standing in equity and not entitled TO any sympathy
when they nnd themselves barred from market by
prohlbtve tariff"
II to be hoped that Senator smoots bill viii receive
the support OF the entire Republican majority in Con
gress but that It will the approval Of Mr. Wilson
is extremely doubtful, be remains free trader despite
the lessons taught by the war When both the Admins
traon and the Congress Republican, protection to
American industries Will be assured and not until then