davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Business Improving in Chile
Retail Stores Beginning to Take On Air of Activity
Not Seen in Months; Old Stocks of
Goods Appear Exhausted

pre-crisis activity. The old stocks were
purchased during the time of intense
crisis and unusual world demand, when
merchants foreseeing long period of
high prices were endeavorinR to lay
in a large supply. The new stocks will,
of course, be purchased to the gener
ally lower prices prevailing now IN Eu-
rope and the United States, but it is
not believed that these reductions will
be reacted here to any great cxtentS
because Of the unfavorabIe Chilean ex-
change.
Problem OF Exchange
During a considerable part Of the.
period when prices abroad were hiehest
the value Of the Chilean peso was also
high and the cost Of living was not SO
keenly felt here as elsewhere, but now
conditions are quite the reverse: fac
tory prices have dropped, but the peso
has also dropped. 30 that after con-
verting foreign values into Chilean cur
rency the cost to the Chilean public
is still very high.
Proprietors Of department stores re-
port that an interesting phenomenon
in the resumption of business is the
greater number of purchases being
made by the lower class people. 1t is
evident that the work Of education and
social instruction among this class is
having its effect in desire for better
dress, new ideals Of cleanliness and
better living conditions; certainly the
distressing spectacle Of dirty, unkempt
people OF the working classes is less
frequently met with than formerly.
This is more especially noticeable
among the younger generation. who
evidence greater personal pride in
dress and manners.
The opening Of the fruit markets Of
the United tSates and Europe during
the winter months TO imported products
has caused m active interest among
growers and shippers in Chile, in the
possibilities Of developing an importan.
export trade in this, one Of their chier,
but hitherto neglected. products.
In the successfui development Of this
trade much will depend on the methods
pursued by growers and shippers. FIRST,
the proper selection, preparation and
handling Of the fruit must Be consid-
cred; then the problems Of trsnsporta-
tion and adjystment Of the supply are
extremely important and adsertisins
and the development OF markets mus]
bc carefully considered, but chiefly ths
delivery Of the fruit ia The Far North.
ern markets in, good ccpdition, prer,
erly Graded and packed. mnet b 8,
sursd.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Examine Big Problems

In turning it's convention into an ef-
fort to examine the practical reaction
in this country Of present conditions
abroad, the Chamber of Commerce
again displayed its singularly good
Judgment of news values. The facts
that the Genoa conference was called
to halt and plans for the Hague meet
ing announced only day before the
Commerce convention were strokes Of
dental.
The Chamber of Commerce sessions
were not a duplication of the discus
sions held at Philadelphia a week be-
fore,. but supplemented the earlier
meeting: Under the auspices of the
National Council of Foreign Trade the
technical problems of trading among
nations were analysed. The Chamber
OF Commerce convention, on the other
hand, dealt more with the larger prob
lens Of international politics and eco
nomics which will in a large measure
determine the flow of merchandise
across the seas in the per.,., hat lies
ahead.
The Philadelphia meeting attempted
to demonstrate that foreign trade,
though sproportionately small com
pared with domestic commerce, was
heVeTtheiess necessary for complete
prospe rity. The Washington sessions
attempted to formulate conditions un-
DER which trade with Europe could be
heightened.
AT both commercial gatherings en-
phasis was laid on the desirability--.
from the standpoint of American in
ternational traders and ship owners
of a huge American merchant marine
operated and owned privately. The
National Foreign Trade convention was
somewhat cautious and inconclusive in
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Special Financial Correspondence


CHATTANOOGA, May 1s.-De,
spite the advent of the boil weevil
prospects for North Carolina agri
culturally for 1922 are good, accord
ing to W. M. Elliot. Chattanooga
farm loan banker, who has just re.
turned from q months tour Of the
Tar Heel State. Diversified crops
will prevent the boil weevil having
any really serious effect in North
Carolina, in the bankers opinion.
Practically all COTTON farmers are
also growing tobacco, corn and truck
produce, 80 that it will be difficult for
any pest to destroy their main revenue
The farmers of the Old North State
have been thoroughly Debated, and
what is more, they know 1t, have
stopped talking about it, and have got
ten back to work, Mr.. Elliot said. Land
speculation has virtually ceased, and
farm land prices have decreased from
an average of $3.50 an acre to the pre-
war level of $1Oo to $125 an acre. Farm
labor, which in 1917 and 1918 shifted at
$5 day, is now working for $26 to $50
q month. The farmers have ceased
complaining about conditions, and are
earnestly at work to make larger re-
turn than their, expenses, for the first
time in two years.
Indications are that this year will
see such result. Tobacco price indi-
cations are excellent; the North Caro-
lima planting has just commenced, but
there is good acreage. A strong cam
paiRn is being waged over the state for
the formation Of cooperative market
ing association. similar to that operat-
ing in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio
There is strong probability that the
move will be successful.
Wnr Finance Loans
"The War Finance Corporation't
loans to farmers were the financial
salvation of many communities" Mr.
Elliot said. "A great many banks in
the Piedmont belt had gone hog wild
over farm loans during the flush years
They rolled in money, built expensive
buildings, often costing double the
amount of their capital stock. They
even went so far as to encourage farm
ers to go out and buy more land, sc
that they could furnish them money.
"When the dehation came it hit them
an awful wallop. The frozen loans
in North Carolina were immense and
severe stringency in finance and cred
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Canada's Tariff and England
Iuts Likely to Take the Form of an Increase il
British Preference Rather Than Reductions
in General Rates

proved objectionable, and since Novem-
Der 80, 1906, when a new tariff bill was
introduced, the preferential rate has
been stated separately for each tariff
item. In fixing the rates for the Brit
ish preferential schedule the policy Of
one-third off the ordinary duties was
adhered to generally, but not few ex-
ceptions were made, and in the case of
certain commodities no preference is
allowed on imports from the United
Kingdom.
The government will not return, of
course, to the former policy of uni
form reduction of the ordinary duties,
but it is possible that horizontal re-
auction may be made in the present
rates of the British preferential sched-
ule. Unless many exemptions be made,
such measure would incite protests
from multitude of Canadian indus
tries. During the tariff committee
hearings in Canada in 1920-21 there
were numerous complaints against the
| low duties of the British preferential
tariff. Many Canadian manufacturing
interests would be seriously affected
erential rates on their products, while
others have little competition except
from the United States and would not
be concerned seriously if the duties on
British importations were abolished
entirely.
See Danger in Cut
With the exception of those con-
fronted directly with competition from
British goods, the majority of Canadian
business men do not entertain any sug-
gestion that British products may be
imported in such volume as to menace
many industries in which the United
Kingdom has not been regarded here
tofore as serious competitor. They
will view an increase in the British
preference as comparatively harmless
concession to escape much more Sc
rious evil-a lowering Of the tariff
against importations from the United
States.
But there are those who declare that
the British preferential rates, already
are the weakest part Of the Canadian
protective system, and that any fur
ther reduction of those rates would be
highly dangerous to the national econ
omy of the Dominion. They point out
that the Canadian customs depart
ment has no officers in Great Britain
to check invoice valuations, and that
under reduced rates dumping could be
practiced without likelihood of detec-
ton. During the eleven months ended
February. 1922, imports into Canada
from the United Kingdom were valued
at s102,967, ,87S. or slightly more than
Is per cent of the value OF importa-
tions from all countries.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
E1'rope>s Economic Riddles and Our Trade
Freely Discussed at c. Of C.. Convention

disinclined to risk merchandise or
money merely because Of the love Of
their fellow men or their fascination
with the theories OF Lenine and
Irotzky, which both Of the latter, in.
csdentally, have fast been abandoning
IN frantic struggle to resusctate the
productive processes without which
Russia will continue to wither and
1ade. Instead Of exporting further
1dealistic sentiments to Russia and
withholding goods, Mr.. Hoover sought
to state conditions under which trade
would be feasible.
From some quarters Mr.. Hoover has
been criticized on the ground that he
envisaged the European problem as
simply huge plilanthropic venture
10 these critics Mr.. Hoover appeared
not materialistic enough. The Secre.
tary OF Commerce answered this type
OF comment by granting frankl ly8hat
without a resumption Of eficien tsbro.
ductivity in Russia, charity would be
overwhelmed.
Ihe nations commercial leaders had
no protest to make against the Ad-
ministration's handling of the Euro
pean problem, particularly since the gov
ernments plan is still tentative and in
formative stage. And yet there was
profound undercurrent of sentiment
among. delegates in favor of doing
something positive in the matter cf CO.
operating with the Old World in the
matter of economic restoration.
Unrestricted by agenda which at
Genoa prevented an economic confer
ence from treating the essential eco
nomic problems Of reparations. inter
Allied debts, and land disarmament t
speakers before the congress of trad
ers, producers and employers leaped
boldly into the most controversial sub
jects. Yet. in committing itself to con-
crete recommendations, the convention
as whole was more timid and limited
its definite declaration Of faith rega rd-
ing Europe to 4 request that the Unite d
States promptly appoint representa-.
tive on the Reparation Commission and
further, that it participate in the In
ternational Court of Justice,
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Special Financial Correspondence

~
IQKONTO, May 19.-The tariff
concession which the government be-
heVes that it must make to the
agrarlan group in the Canadian
rariiament now seems likely, in part
.at least, to take the form of an in
crease in the British preference. It
Is understood that such is the alter
naslve preferred by many supporters
OF the King administration, instead
oi reductions in the general tariff
rates on the specific commodities
mentioned in the tariff demands of
the Canadian Council Of Agricul-
ture.
II the preference is to be increased.
9ne exact manner in which such in
crease will be effected is guarded jeal-
ously. 1t was a Liberal governme mt.
w,ta w. S. Fielding, then as now
mlnister of Finance, which instituted
70 1897 the British preference in re-
spect of customs duties on goods inn
ported into Canada. Provision was
made in the so-called reciprocal
ta.inn OF 1897 for preference which
initially was one-eighth of the ordinary
eeutles, but was to increase after year
70 cne-fourth.
IN the original act this reduction was
- apply to the imports from any coun-
sy that should admit "the products of
.anada on terms which, on the whole,
- sIs IS favorable to Canada as the terms
sne reciprocal tariff herein referred
!" .re to the countries to which it may
spp!y' but in 1898 an amendment con-
tso the preference to imports from
+.; e British Empire and imposed cer-
a,n conditions.
"o years later, the preference was
.Sseased from one-fourth to one.
fano f.ro OF the ordinary duties, and for
years such horizontal preference
!. maintained. despite much criticism.
a. SAID that the low rates applicable
lmportations from the United King
srsa under this provision resulted in
~ ;n competition from imports of Brit
Ia. .wooiens that the Canadian wooden
sussry was almost destroyed.
Asduce Preference
~ AsoA q number Of changes were
tics tne most important being reduc-
H.. ol the preference to much less
fshu. one-ehird in the case of wooden
eossas essl.cs and wearing apparel, twine and
uaee. and wooden tubs and pals.
faSrs.,n British preference as a uniform
sssion of the ordinary duties still
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21

Special Foreion Financial Correspondence
SANTIAGO, Chile, April %
The uncertainty and gloom which
has enveloped business in Chile for
the past year, strangling initiative
and forcing curtailment Of normal
activities, seems on the eve Of lift
ing. Department stores, always in
dicators Of a country's prosperity
or depression, and other retail stores
in the larger cities, are beginning to
take on an air Of activity not seen
for many months, and which pres.
ages we'll for the future. This i'm
provement is also reflected in the
transactions of importers and whole
sale houses.
Among the factors most strongly
contributory to this increased business
activity, through instilling into the
public consciousness feeling OF hope.
fulness and confidence in the approach
Of better times, are probably the bet
ter outlook for the future Of Chilean
nitrate; the renewal Of operations
although as yet on reduced scale
in the nitrate fields and copper mines;
the enactment by the government Of
various economic measures calculated
to further the growth Of Chilean in
dustries, and its evident determination
to rehabilitate the nations finances
which are 80 intimately connected with
the economic life Of the country; ths
imminent settlement Of the nation,
differences with Peru. and the gradual
solving Of such social problems a. un.
employment and strikes.
Winter Season ct Hand
OF course, there should also be taker
into account in connection with thii
renewed buying the fact that in Chile
the beginning Of the winter season il
at hand and the public. which had beer
pYacticing q strict economy during thu
last year, is probably finding itself III
position where 1t can, no longer pu,
OF the purchase Of new supplies o.
clothing and articles Of necessity
Newly arrived importations, with theil
novelty appeal. have been appearing
and they have also contributed.
Old stocks of merchandise, which
were very slow in moving, are now ap
parently exhausted. and from now oy
purchases abroad Of manufactured ar
tieles should sAradually resume thei
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21

It's comment on the Administration 3
ship subsidy bill, which President
Harding has said is at the var, Of the
constructive program Of the govern
nent but the Chamber of Commerce Of
the United States expressed in definite
terms its support Of the measure for
direct and indirect aids. The bill in
nnal form Will be presented to both
houses Of Congress in fortnight.
Officials Present
From the standpoint OF newspaper
headlines the Washington conference
was far more productive than the dis
cusslons at Philadelphia, the self-styled
nations workshop" Washington,
whose main industry is oratory. lacks
atmosphere as place for a shirt
sleeve convention, but, being the seat
OF government, its selection as meet
ing place made possible the attendance
at the convention Of leading figures of
the Administration.
The principal reason for holding the
convention at the capital was the Law
ing of the cornerstone for the new @
Chamber of Commerce Building. Incl
dentaily, in connection with the new
building, there has been a mild cyclone
in teapot. Some weeks ago, sfter, in
a referendum, members of the chamber
had committed themselves to the open
shop policy in business, officials of the
national organization announced that
the new building would be constructed
on an open shop plan.
After reading accounts of the pur-
pose in the local press Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Feder-
alton of Labor, which also has its
Headquarters at the capital, inquired
of the chamber whether it intended to
make Of its building program a vast
anti-labor demonstration Elliott
Goodwin. general secretary of the
| chamber, called upon Mr.. Gompers,
and. according to local gossip, attrib-
uted most of they fuss to copyreaders
who invented scare headlines. He told
Mr.. Gompers that the chamber pur-
posed no expression of propaganda,
but merely wanted to act in accordance
with it's preachments and employ
union men and non-union men alike on
the new home for Americas largest
business organization. Mr.. Goodwin,
it is understood, called attention to
the fact that the A. F. of l.. building,
in accordance with the principles Of
that organization, was erected or the
"closed shop" plan. The "union shop
plan, Mr.. Gompers corrected. After
this attempt to smoothe the rough
edges both sides decided to persist in
Following their own ideas.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Permanent Textile Exhibit

The Irish Trade Commission in the
United States has informed the Depart
ment Of Commerce that permanent
exhibition Of Irish textiles has been
opened in Dublin. This exhibition I'M
cludes tweeds, serges, homespuns, hosi-
cry. laces and the various other lines
Of Irish textiles.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Seeks Trade Basis

The Secretary of Commerce was with
great candor searching for means of
genuine trade resumption, and the ex-
change of commodities is realistic
thing. American merchants and ship.
pers in the last two years have been
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Wnr Finance Loans
this particular perforation pattern is

permitted"
One Of the interesting results OF the
Standardization policy since the three
weeks it has been in operation Is the
fact that 1t has not displaced any Of
the firms regular business. Its Gus
toners appear to be buying just as
much Of the styled line as they were
before the standardized line was Of
fered. Volume has been increased
about 20 per cent since the standard
lied line was introduced, according to
an official Of TIE concern. due entirely
to the orders for the standard shoes.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
By Harold r. Bunce

<HARES NJ. SCHWAB and associates in Tho R.h,ah
Corporation are credited the community and he
steel circles throughout the country having engneeea
alternating the Lackawanna Steel Company from the other
independents who had been, and still are planning conodatnn
rsud the United States Corporation in s,ze d -
suNe capacity -
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
A Pressing Question


Yet the questions Of industrial re-
lations at this time were too pressing
to be ignored. At Chicago, for ex-
ample, there exists intense feeling be-
tween employers and employees in the
building trades. On good authority,
the statement was made that the life
OF the president of the Chicago Asso-
citation of Commerce was threatened.
Chambers of Commerce can perform
their greatest usefulness as public
service agencies, and, as Joseph H.
Defrees, the retiring president of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, has repeatedly said, the ma
tional body aims to be serviceable to
the nation as whole and not to any
selfish. group. The Chamber of Com
merce ought to be--and aspires to be
more than an employers associa-
tion. 1t should be a social interpreter
that explains to one another the diff
ferent elements in the nations eco
nomic life.
AS an articulator of business intel
ligence on business matters the Cham
Der OF Commerce of the United States
mas become increasingly useful to the
government. In it's selection of Julius
n. Barnes, Of Duluth, Mimi, former
chairman OF the United States Grain
Corporation, as its new president the
chamber draws itself closer than ever
to the. Department Of Commerce, for
Mr.. Barnes and Secretary Hoover have
for e. number of years been intimate
associates, particularly in connection
with food administration and American
relief activities.
Washington is unequipped for con
vention of the size of the Chamber OF
Commerce meeting.
10 hold sessions it was necessary to
bring fishmongers and leaders of Amer
lean industry together under one roof
The general meetings tooksplace in
Convention Hall, below which are
stalls at which fish, meats and veg
etables are bartered to the public
Group meetings took place in the vari-
Gus hotels.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Cost Of Doing Business
Retailers Big Problem
Merchandise Moving in Good Volume,
but Heavy Expenses Eat Up ,
Profit, They Say

SEVINHE the everything expenses
These words spoken by the of
big retail establishments epitomzes problem
merchant to-day Recent country
and dollars and cents, favoraby year.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Complementary Plants

Une Of the reasons for The purchase
OF Lackawanna lies in the fact that
Lackawanna is strong in practically
the only branch of steel making that
has been Bethlehems weak spot,
namely, rails. The time had ~lme for
Bethlehem to make itself truly COM
plete unit in the industry through the
construction or purchase of steel rail
plants Of size commensurate with
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Washington Meeting, With.
out Handicap of Agenda,
Talks of Practical Basis
for Revival of Commerce
Positive Steps Favored
U. S. Participation on Repa-
rations Board and in
World Court Urged

subjects. There is something of an
overtendency to inbreeding at such con-
crosses.
Business men hear what they believe
from men who think along similar
lines. But this ostrich-like practice Of
hiding ones head in the ground does
not eliminate cleavages or heal
breaches. Social problems, dealing
not with money making but with liv-
ing, have place at such discussions.
Analyses Of new devices for making
laboring men happier and more CO.
operative, such as the Proctor 4
Gamble Company plan of admitting
workingmen to the board Of directors,
should be made for the benefit Of the
delegates. In fairness to the Chamber
OF Commerce it should be observed
that it has departments for dealing
with such matters on permanent
basis. At some of its conventions
labor and sociological problems take a
place with technical questions Of trade
and finance as subjects for discussion.
The chamber selects a definite theme
for each convention-and the subject
for the tenth annual convention was
European conditions and their effect
on American business" The conven-
tion adhered to its subject and helped
to clarity thinking on the subject.
New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Business Men Warmly Ap.
prove Hoover's Formula
Tor Readmitting Russia
to 5 Society of Nations
A Commercial Problem
industrial Leaders Express
Definite Support of the
Ship Subsidy Measure
By Merryle Stanley Rukeyser
WASHINGTON

w H1LE the American gov
" ernment chooses to hold