Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-05
AMERICANS ARE SEEKING
MARKETS OF THE WORLD
Plan to Carry Products of This Ma
ton to Every Country on
Face of Earth.
FILING THEIR STATEMENTS
Aims Are Fully Set Forth to Pre-
Won't Collision With Sherman
>>Antitrust Act and the Clay
, ton Law.

American manufacturers arc rapidly
forming export associations which
|. plan to carry tho products OF the
United States to every nation on earth.
ITO create and enlarge .demands for
s carsoes Tor ne ana to
chant marine TO transport over the
seyen seas The trade invasion Of
when Europe has been supplied with
flood and accommodation materials and
e the world gets back to-a normal peace
basis
To avoid collision with provisions OF
Sc Sherman antitrust act and the
filing statements of their purposes with
.nthe Federal Trade Commisso ion, taking
advantage OF the Webb bill permit
purpose OF export trade. This act en-
ables Americans to combine their
similar combinations In other. coun-
tries Up TO the present ffty-two
statements have been iled. embracing
Smakcrs, paper makers. lumber manu-
facturers and general exporters.
as a general rule, the combinations
have been effected along the line OF
trade associations--that is. all man
ufacturcrs in the producing a certain
ing together, somewhat along the lines
followed by, the Germans in pushing
fore the war. Some experts believe
that this system is wrong. and that
the combinations should be effected
along the department store idea-that
Is. that each combination should in
clude one or two manufacturers of each
article and that the association should
bc able to furnish everything from n
pin to locomotive. They argue this
system would save much expense In
cies. and that just AS strong organiza-
tions can be effected as under the other
plan. Advocates OF the one-line-of
business idea contend however, that
their system, which sends out highly
specialized statesmen to sell one Irti-
Gle only and which allocates all orders
among the manufacturers embraced in
the association, makes the stronger
ton only.
OFFICIALS HAVE STUDIED
THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS
Officials who have studied the prob
lem think the danger of an outgrowth
OF these export associations similar to
many which controlled metals and
metal products in all parts OF the
world. both in production and dtstri-
button. is eliminated by provision OF
the Webb bill. which prohibits any cx-
porters' association from engaging in
10 prevent or make undesirable. con,
troll OF raw materials. 1t also is pro-
vided that the acts of the combinations
must not be in any way in restraint
OF trade within the United States. the
Federal Trade Commission having con-
tinnal supervision over their activities
and each individual manufacturing or
1obbbins member OF the association be-
ing amenable to the Sherman and
clayton acts insofar as his domestic
business Is concerned.
The Bureau Of Foreign and Domes-
TO the comb nations. in the way of
statistical and trade Information about
foreign af markets additional CONNER
being sought by the bureau TO handle
the expected increased volume Of
American. business. and n movement
is under way with the backing of the
department or Commerce. the Cham
and other organizations, to secure more
part of whose duties would be 10 as
Owing TO the existence OF long-term
c credits &c, customs IN foreign markets,
were inaueurated by the Germans and
English. ii Will he necessary for the
american exporters TO have an agency
ceptances and similar documents OF
Indebtedness American bankers.
awake TO this need. are moving hand
In hand with the manufacturerS-even
Few steps ahead--aRd are establish
ing bran branch banks in South America
STA. China. the Philippines. the straits
Settlements the Dutch East Indies.
British India, Japan, Panama, Great
expected the export associations will
carry the products OF Yankee ingenuity
and civilization.
SHIPPING FACILITIES
GREATEST DRAWBACK
With all this preparation accom-
plished and much more about to be be-
gun. there renal one considerable
problem for tn +.4.'ican merchants to
overcome before they can make any
progress In foreign markets. This is
shipping.
Withdrawal Of All merchant vessels
from normal trade routes and placing
o. them under absolute control of the
shipping Hoard under the stress Of
war necessity. makes 1t impossible to
get products 10 foreign buyers until
some tonnage is released by the board
LOT normal trade purposes. Tho silt
uation in Europe regarding food and
reconstruction material Is such that
the board desires to retain control OF
every vessel until the emergencies
have been passed and it has been de
cared IN some quarters that at least
Two years must elapse before all the
abnormal needs of the world can be
supplied, even with the continual uee
OF all existing bottoms. However. a
pan may be evolved by the division
or operations OF the Shipping Board
under which after all vessels have been
used for several months exclusively In
the food carrying TO Europe pro-