New-York tribune., 1920-12-20


The ways Of bettering the y cond-
tions are:
l. A continuing demand for manu-
factured products.
p Efficiency of workmen.
g. Cutting down of the extravagant
methods OF business entered into
during the war period because of the
rush of producing goods rapidly for
important contracts.
4. The ability to produce and sell
American goods throughout the world
in competition with other manufact-
urlng nations.
Efficiency or the Increase
The second and third methods are al
ready being actively pushed and in
creased efficiency among workmen is
very rapidly showing itself. The cut
ting down of the high~cost methods has
, begun, and will continue, backed by
American initiative and brains.
The first and fourth methods are the
most difficult Of accomplishment, be-
cause we have higher labor cost in
this country than in any of the other
producing nations which are competing
with us.
The vital need is that our American
young men should realize that to have
prosper 1t is necessary that our young
men should acquire an intimate knowl-
edge of Spanish, Chinese, Russian or
Portuguese, and have a Willingness and
farsightedness enough to 60 to the
South American republics, to China, to
Russia or Siberia and to such q great
Portuguese-speaking count.y as Brazil.
I'll.
Future in Foreign Trade
The American young man has won
derful future in the Far East and in
the South American countries, as we'll
as in the East and West Indies. With
out these young Americans and their
integrity, initiative, perseverance and
activity the American manufacturer
cannot hope to succeed to any real
permanent degree as against the Brit
ish, French and the German manu-
facturers.
Any young man who is willing to go
to the parts Of the world which | have
indicated above will, first, have the
pleasure of getting into new environ
ment, creating q sphere for himself
and having greater degree of free
dom of action and of aiding in the de-
velopmens of our countries foreign
commerce to the greatest possible de-
gree. He undoubtedly will receive r
greater monetary compensation than
by staying in the United States, and
he will also have the satisfaction of
playing much needed part in such
countries as China and Russia in the
carrying forward of these great coun-
tries to a more intelligent basis of
government, more modern methods of
doing their business and in raising
their standards of living. My strong
advice to the American young man is
Go to the Far East or to South Amer
ica, if you have foresight and the de-
sire to succeed.
Shipping Needs Young Men
In connection with the shipping
problems, the same great need of
young men in the foreign ports exists,
and we have among American steam
ship companies only a few American
branch houses in the Far East and in
South America. These are represented
principally by Robert Dollar and the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company in
the Far East; by W. r. Grace & Co.
on the west coast of South America,
and by the Munson Steamship Line
en- the east .oast orSoutn America.
Our American merchant marine has,
in my belief, come to stay, provided it
has intelligent and active attention on
the part Of the Shipping Board, un-
hampered by political considerations.
The sale of the large fleet of steam
ers owned by the Shipping Board is Of
vital Importance. The government can
only look for an increased loss by
holding it's tonnage, which has depreci-
ated and is further depreciating with
every month that passes.
The merchant marine act of 1920,
called the Jones bill, has very wise pro-
visions in it on the question Of selling
our American tonnage at market prices.
SO far no tonnage has been sold at