The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-10-29
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE.

The United States during all the
course Of its history until 1914, was
essentially provincial. It's outlook
commercially and economically did
not reach, to any large extent, beyond
tits own boundaries. 1t was cultivated
las market by foreign traders against
whom it built barriers, while it ex-
ported little but surplus foods.
1t money was needed to develop
natural resources, to extend railroads
Tor for like purposes, the promoters
went to Great Britain, Belgium, Hol-
land, Germany, to get it. The products
of the land were depended upon to
pay interest, dividends and carrying
charges. The balance of trade went
back in these forms, equalizing our
tariffs.
Six and a half years have changed
this situation. They have advanced
the United States in a jump what
would have been the natural progress
Of century. But the loss is in grad
ual approach with its process of prep
aration for the change, which has
caught the United States wholly un-
prepared.
In the old countries, finance and
transportation center around the sup
port foreign trade. In Germany there
was a lower rail rate to the seaboard
than for internal distribution. Every
manufacturer knew exactly the rate,
land and water combined, to any for
eign port. The railroads and mer-
chant marine nd joint rates.
The same was and is true of Great
Britain, while wherever necessary
her ocean liners have financial sup
port. At the other end of the trans
action, both countries had great
wholesale houses to receive, store and
distribute shipments and banks to ia
.cilitate credits and exchange. There
was no break in the chain from the
home producer to the foreign retailer.
In Germany, also, and to only les
ser extent in Great Britain, were what
we call trusts, or combinations of in
dustries to get trade and fill orders,
which orders were distributed to pro
m6te the development Of German in.
dustries. This is something the Webb
act is aimed to supply in a narrow
way for the United States, but which
does not permit the fire. 3om Of trans
fer and trade fully supplied in the old
countries.
It Is this picture our Congress
should have In mind when dealing
with all features of foreign commerce.
INSTEAD of the greatest debtor nation,
this Is now the greatest creditor ma
ton. Industry must be fostered and
protected as much by legitimate aids
in reaching foreign markets, as In pre-
venting too great on inflow.
Inflow there must be to pay the car.
rying charges Of the huge debt due
this government and It's people. Out
flow there must be to take care of the
surplus of production and manufae.
ture. But II the outflow Is adequately
promoted, this will of itself, in large
measure, balance the economic effect
of the inflow TO promote this export
IL is essential that facilities be pro
vided similar TO those OF the old In
dustrial countries.
In this way distribution costs can be
lowered to balance higher production
COSTS. AS 1t Is, our land transporta
ton systems are distinct from the
ocean carrying systems. Our mer
chant marine has not working connec
ton with the railroads Export prices
are I. o. b. cur ports, instead of I. o. b.
foreign ports.
In foreign countries there are now
some American banks, but no Amer
lean wholesale houses. or so few rs
to he none In the great trade equa-
ltlon. The chief lines of trade in our
major industries, save steel and oil
stop at our ports. They must reach
TO the foreign retail system. To hold
foreign markets we must meet them
in their own lands.
Il