Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-05
STANLEY n. ROSE
On the Value Of Foreign Trade

TN THE foreign trade of nation, State
L or city lies much of its material pros
perity, and it is a thing which should be
encouraged to the utmost, says Stanley II.
Rose, manager of the foreign sales depart
ment of the Barber Asphalt Company.
81 sometimes wonder" said Mr.. Rose,
"whether the average Philadelphian or even
the average business man in our city real
ICES the Importance of foreign trade. not
only to the Nation at large, but to the State,
Foreign trade to many is still vague term.
implying some incidental business done by
few firms who have surplus stocks on hand
which they wish to unload upon the far
away inhabitants of South America or China
or Timbuctoo. To some of these people for
eign exchange with it's rise and fall Is but
speculative game played by the bankers to
make money for themselves and to lose it for
the tired business man.
However, insistent and continuous good
work on the part Of the United States
Department of Commerce. the establiShment
of foreign trade bureaus in our commercial
organizations and the starting OF foreign
trade classes in our educational institutions,
as we'll as the heroic work being done by
Philadelphias shipping men to give our port
a larger degree of Importance, Is Graduaiiv
though slowly calling the attention of the
average Philadelphian to foreign trade and
its benefits.
"The fact is that Philadelphia has always
played a big part in the foreig ign trade of
the Nation ever since the time that the good
shin John sailed for the River Plate in
October, 1893, from the foot of Walnut street.
philadelphia manufactures can be found
in every part of the world, and at this time
men from Philadelphia representing large
PHILADELPHIA corporations and firms are
actually travelling through Japan, China,
Ncyico. Australia, Africa and Europe SELL
ing American merchandise, securing contracts
for American engineering and incidentally
advertising and boosting our own city ana
port.
"Were it possible by means of long dis
tance radio telescopes to look across the
oceans and continents, we might see these
PHILADELPHIA foreign trade emissaries riding
on the 'bund' at Yokohama in their jim
riCkshas from town to town IN ARABIA by
camel. among the South Sea islands by out
rigger native canoe and across the South
American ranges by mule or donkey.
"Apart from the utility of foreign trade
| 70 the Nation and its necessity to our eco
nomic life. 1t has a romance all its own and
| without doubt provides for our young men
means of practical world education which,
I might almost say, is priceless. Other
nations have realized this long ago and con.
slider no Young mans education finished un-
less he has visited at least two >or three
| foreign countries and has acquired at least
| one language besides his own.
1--WE have made some progress in this
Inter respect ourselves, and at many of our
| educational institutions foreign trade classes
| have been formed and foreign languages are
heing taught, but this is still being done
| in n balf hearted way. How many of our
| voune men have Travelled abroad and have
| first hand knowledge Of foreign markets, for
eign peoples and foreign customs!
Distances Annihilated
"Leaving Philadelphia after breakfast on
| n Saturday one can arrive In Havana in
time for lunch on the following Tuesday, in
Mexico City on Thursday or In Paris on
| Friday. In less than one week one can
be in the capital city Of foreign country,
his own home and learn his language under
ideal conditions. Yet how many OF us take
advantage of this unequaled education lying
virtually at our very door?
| "True, every steamer, sailing from these
shores, especially during he summer months,
Is crowded to capacity, but, after all, so
| ner cent of these ocean trsvelers are tourists,
who with their Baedeker in hand will rush
through Europe to see as many cathedrals
as possible, visit as many cabarets as pos
sible and sample as many 'boissons' as pos
sble
$50 much for the educational value to
the individual of foreign travel and of dealing
with the foreigner on foreign soil and in
foreign surroundings.
"As to the value of foreign trade to the
city, to the State and to the Nation, this can
easily be seen when it Is realized that our
exports alone to foreign countries amounted
to $500 425. $50 in 1919 and to So, 22S, :.
O16,3 1907 in 1920 These amounts cover many
commodities and are spread over many indus
trial centers, but large manufacturing cities
IKE Philadelphia. which rightly calls itself