Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-11-04
German Goods
= Peddled From
Door to Door
Efforts Being Made to Market
Products Here at Prices
Which u. S. Manufac-
lures Cannot Compete.
By HOLLAND

There passed through one OF the
large office buildings in New York
the other day a man who made !, a
point TO call At every office, He was
not promptly turned away because he
brought an article which immedi-
ately attracted attention. This was a
small clock. pleasing TO look at. glis-
tening in its pure nickel covering. He
offered il for sale for one dollar and
half and when he was asked as he
always was. how he was able TO sell
SO we'll perfected an article as this
, for dollar and half his reply was
that German artisans made il and II
with many other similar clocks had
been sent to the United States for
sale.
He replied frankly TO the question,
What 10 your eommission1 saying that
II Was ~ cents for each clock. That
left si.iS 10 be accounted for. How could
Germany make these clocks and market
them In the United States for sl.iS7 The
salesman did not know. He did confess.
little clocks and In that large office
building he had already sold some 80
clocks
Competition impossible.
:. This sneedots Is reported now because
intensive efforts which Germany is now
making TO market In the United states
many articles at n price with which
pete successfully. Aluminium articles. va
rious things In which nickel II employed.
sope cutlery. In fact long list OF ar
ees represent Germany's attempt to
the American market
Careful inquiry was followed by In
formation whicE goes far towards ex-
planning why Germany IL able to place In
the American market little clock. Of
American clock making industry can
no. compete. II I, true that from this
clock called an alarm clock for which
the price affixed is only sl.2s. But this
clock does not compare In appearance
OF ornamental quality with the German
clock.
II was learned on good authority that
Germany can manufacture these clocks
at 4 cost of 81 cents. Its skilled labor
artisans. working to efficiency capacity
at low rate of pay. make It possible
for this article to be manufactured for
81 cents. II II Is sold In the United
States there remains profit for some
body after the salesman's commission Is
paid of nearly 30 cents.
Apparently one method adopted by
Germany to market these articles is
by tho offering of sufficient inducement
to statesmen. Many now go about from
house to house and from office to Of
flee acting as skillful peddlers of these
German made commodities. This Is. how
ever. only one OF the methods adopted
by Germany witE which to command.
world and especially those Of the United
states for Its commodities.
Up In the Air.
This anecdots can be used to Illus
trate the perplexlties with which con-
gress is now faced while considering
who recently visited Washington and
were brought in touch with some Of tie
members OF congress whose duty 1t is to
York to say that evidently the commit
tee Of the senate is up in the air. so
to speak. in an economic fog. which
makes it impossible for them to get a
clear understanding and good view OF
the economic situation. national and in:
ternational. which must BE- understood
jt a reasonable and adequate tariff bill
is enacted into law. The German stu
alton In part explains this perplexity
in Washington. At least tkis much is
known that until there be good under
emit and prospective, 1t will be practically
vi be reasonable and fair to all inter-
But It Is not congress alone which is
puzxled by or ignorant Of the real sit
vation. The American public as whole
does not understand It because az yet
no understandable explanation has been
made In such q manner that the pub
lie can grasp It.
The German Mark.
They have frequently read in the
newspapers and in other publications the
s stase% N the German msrkmtse mark be-
ing the standard in Germany as the
dollar Is in the United States-gives an
advantage to German manufacturers In
learn how many OF the American public
do not understand what the word mark
means. not realizing that 1t stands for
TIE German financial system as the DOL
lar does for the American.
In one OF the authoritative financial
publications 1t was stated ~ recently as
October that the fall IN the foreign
Britain at a disadvantage as compared
with German competitors in the Inter
national markets. This is not only keenly
felt by Great Britain. but by other coun-
tries AZ we'll. This is approved by the
few who do understand as true state
ment and not many of the public grasp
strong that some members Of congress-
do not understand It. The federal reserve
board at Washington. however. knows
Me ro whs she 'h nuetn ~ this Soard
was recently published. states that In a
country like Germany, where greatly
deprecated currency acts as an auto
ports. while the disparity between in
ternal and external prices encourages
export the chief problems involved In
the regulation OF foreign trade are the
prevention Of the export of essential
commodities and the restriction Of Inn
ports to foods and to raw materials. The
fluctuations Of marks exchange during
September tended further ia discourage
imports into Germany and to encourage
the placement Of orders for exports.
When the American public gets good
understanding Of what is now the stu
alton 20 iar a. me German a,i marx com
cerned, then Il may be reasonably assumed
INIT congress will be able by the force
D. public opinion and by sharing in the
enlightenment. which good explana-
tion furnishes. to, perfect and to enact
into law a tariff bill which will be rea-
sonable., fair and which will as far as
possible, tend to equalixe or stabilize the
relation Of the German mark to tie
American dollar.
Copyright, 1921. by the Mcclure News
pspAp Syndicate