Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-23
The Souths VtaI Stake
In Export Commerce


~ lightly stressing the Importance of
N export business to every province Oh
the nations material interests,
Joshua W. Alexander, the new Secretary OF
Commerce, pledges his department of Govern
ment to an "alert and aggressive policy Tor
nromoting Americas foreign trade By "ag-
gressive.' it scarcely need be said, he means
nothing remotely akin to the bumptiousness
which marked Germany's old methods in COM
merce as we'll as in diplomacy, nor that I'M
imaginative self-confdence which once dis
posed many of our own merchants and manu-
facturers to regard foreign markets as realms
which they could conquer rather than as
customers whom they must study and strive
to please. He means, we take it, policy
OF going vigorously and observantly forth to
procure overseas business, instead OF resting
content with what fortunes wind and tide
bring in He doubtless means moreover,
thorough organization of resources and ideas
not simply organization for the country as
whole, but for the several regions as WELL
so that opportunities like those hitherto neg
lected in the Southeast may be made to
count definitely and richly for the common
good. And assuredIy he means a removal
of such bonds and distractions as Congress
can effectively deal with.
Tho time has come in our nations affairs,
narticularly in those Of the South When we
must cease to think of foreign trade as con-
corning few exporters only, and must recog-
nize it as broadly essential to the prosperity
of every interest and every group-agrl-
cuIture and industry as we'll as commerce,
farmers and manufacturers as we'll as mer-
chants. .
Georgia and her neighbor States had an
3rforgettabIe lesson on this score III the 1fst
autumn and winter of the World war, when
cotton went begging at starvation prices ana
business grew thin and woefully pale, all be-
cause of a stoppage of exports 1t is largely
on foreign markets that the cotton grower
depends for anything like d satisfactory do
mestic price for his staple. Shut OH or cur
tail the foreign demand, and stralghtWay the
home market will slump Increase the Tor
eign demand, whether for raw cotton or Tor
American cotton goods, and almost inevitably
the home market will rise. Thus every
farmer no less than every manufacturer is
materially concerned in whatever promotes
( or retards our overseas trade.
IT is in Just this connection that delay
on the Peace Treaty gives so grave anxiety
to students of the agricultural and industrial
outlook. All our important foreign relations
are involved in that Treaty. Not until it is
ratified can the credit accommodations neces-
sary to enable European mills and mercan-
tile houses to continue buying from America
be arranged, because not until then will those
called upon to furnish such accommodations
have assurance that the future will be tran
cure. Senator Underwood, of Alabama,
speaks advisedly when he says that suspense
over the Treaty is diminishing our export
trade to such extent that ere long the
losses will be felt "by the cotton farmer OF
the South the wheat farmer of the West and
the manufacturers and laborers OF the
North These interests alone, aside from
the higher issue of the national duty and
honor demand that the Senate harmonic
it's differences and ratify the pact on which
business gertrude depends.
That done, the way will be clear for con-
structive efforts to develop foreign trade and
for that "alert and aggressive policy which
Secretary Alexander urges The paths for
promotive action are numerous. In our own
region liberal support should be given to
such agencies as the South Atlantic Maritime
Corporation and it's companion enterprise, the
South Atlantic Exports company. Herein lie
excellent opportunities for cooperation in Sc
curing the rights and using the advantages
of Southern ports. Cooperation there must
be if we are to meet the cutting competition
from other quarters. After long and arduous
effort have succeeded in getting removed
those discriminatory freight rates that dr
~,arteo 10 the over-crowded ports of the North
Atlantic large volume of Middle Western
export business which if allowed to take
natural course would certainly go through
Southern outlets We have succeeded also in
obtaining vessels from the Shipping Board
wherewith to establish and maintain foreign
trade lines from the ports of this section
But we must keep organized and keep yigi
liant if these advantages are to be held and
others gained. Was not the Atlanta Cham
Der Of Commerce recently called upon to pro
test against proposed legislation which might
have had the effect, if, indeed, it was not
so intentioned, Of depriving Savannah, Bruins
wick and their sister ports of the Southeast
of the very tonnage they had received and
hoped to receive from the Shipping Board?
The South's native resources for building
up lucrative foreign trade are so rich, how
ever, that if her people will but cooperate tC
conserve and advance their common interests
on this line, there will be hardly limit tC
the consequent prosperity. Georgia anC
adjacent States become not only high
ways of world commerce from the Middle
West but themselves exporters of the firs
order. They develop channels ant
sources of demand that will insure them ar
ever profitable outlet for their surplus Of
farm and factory products. They can make
every corner of the earth their market place
and draw tribute from the tides of the Sever
Seas.