Evening journal., 1921-09-22
Dye and Nitrate Policy
Essential to National Safety
From Manufacturers Record Baltimore. Md.)

ishes the same ambitions today, and
we dare not suffer so vital an in
dustry as dye-production. with It's
instant possibilities OF providing the
most destructive implements of war,
to be neglected while she continues,
even now In her supposedly Grip
pied financial condition, to foster II
at loss.
England has taken the more prac-
tics1 view She has revived, as she
does so often on occasion. the his
toric Elizabethan policy, which is
the foundation OF her imperial great
ness. She has placed an embargo,
complete and final, against foreign
dyes. This reminds us OF the Eliz-
abethan embargoes which made pos
.sible the beginnings OF British manu-
featuring Copper and brass goods
for example. were forbidden entry
into the Kingdom-on pain of
deathl 1t sounds barbarous; It may
be objected to on many grounds, hu-
manitarian. and other, but 1t kept
foreign copper and brass out Of Eng
land, It developed her mines and
factories. and it gave her strength.
We are milder of nature in these
days; but the meaning of an en-
barge is still the same. 1t is TO
make sure that the growth and life
OF the nation are not jeopardized.
With this clearly recognized. 1t rs
pertinent to ask what Influences are
at work to create opinion against
an embargo.
1t is folly to plead that the public
must be saved from the high priceE
that would follow so strongly pro-
tected an industry. However, ne
cessary dyes and perfumes and
Photographic chemicals may appear.
they are luxuries nevertheless, and
II the truth as to the vital signifi-
cance OF these Industries for national
protection Is told so that all the peo-
pie may know and appreciate It,
there will be no popular complaint
at paying the premium on such n
policy of defense. 1t is not the in
formed public that is protecting.
but a powerful group OF men who
are interested in the importation OF
German dyes and still larger body
of men who foster Germany's future
purposes for the control Of world
commerce and world affairs.
In a recent article in the Manu-
facturers Record on '"The Nitrate
Question as II affects the future Of
the United States" by Courtenay
DeKalk, 1t was pointed out that We
need a broadly conceived nationa
nitrate policy written into our Fed
eral Statutes, which shall make pos.
sible the production of fixed nitro.
gen as a military necessity for oul
self-preservation, and that ever
possible source OF nitrogen com
pounds, including the by-produc
coking industry, should receive gov
ernmental protection and encour
agement. This is closely related q
the dye industry, for. it depends OF
coal tar which comes from by-pro.
duct coke ovens. Forty-two pc
cent. of our coal is still coked in tn,
wasteful beehive ovens, and II thii
we're treated in by-product ovens
would yield an additional z65. 900, ,00l
pounds Of coal tar yearly. It woulS
/ oNNAAA Nh1N NAt mt hA6 PAO1ANhA hIt
the dye problem are so intimatel,
related that a still broader polio.
OF protection should be evolved 4
include them both under the foster
ing care OF the government Tn
first duty OF government is to pro
tect the security OF the nation
against foreign invasion.
We are not secure as long as VI
have to bring nearly all our fixe,
nitrogen from Chile and while W,
allow other nations to develop tn
coal tar chemical industries at ou
expense, leaving us at their mere.
In case OF International conflicts.
Let Congress be broad minde,
enough TO make America indepen
dent in the materials needed 10
national defence.