The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-02
WHY NOT THE TASK IN HAND.

In addressing tho interstate commerce COM |
mission recently, Mr.. Secretary Hoover. OF the |
bureau OF commerce said
We talk gllbly Of giving billions Of credits
20 foreign countries 90 Increase our farm
exports. / wish 10 say, with all responsi-
blity for the Fiatoment that billion
dollars spcn, American railways Will
give more employment 90 our people. moro
advance 20 our Industry, more assistance 20
outside tho frontiers OF tho United states;
and thore VIII be greater security 20 the
Investor"
Mr. George NJ. Reynolds. ono Of the leading
bankers Of tho chicago zone. In recent state
mcnt said:
ToroIsn trade 10, the United States is
both necessary and desirable, However,
in seeking lead for tho revival OF Amer
team business attention ehould not be
f,cusod on tho foreign trade 10 the EXCLUSION
of American business, American exports
have constituted only some 20 per cent
Of tho total snlca OF this country during
the period OF maximum exports,
tho koy 10 business revival Ilos IN tho do
nestle market
Here are two highly authentic views 10 dia-
mctrlcally opposed 60 the prevailing public
thought and official political action that ono
is left 10 wonder how II is that the directing
heads Of our political structure are 20 far aneld
from the solid facts and nccosstles
TO the average mind accustomed 10 hearing
the necessity Of foreign trade talked in season
tInct shock TO he told that even at tho very
peak Of unprecedented foreign business only
to por cent OF tho total came from buying
| abroad. Tho importance given to this 20 .
| per cent OF trade. dsregarding the % to %
| per cent. is in limo with tho Biblical story Of the
| good shepherd who loft his flock OF 90 ana .
exposed 10 all sorts Of dangers In order that
he might 90 search for tho lost sheep on tho
| frOn ha ai Int Of
sound business as lndefcnslblc.
| II tho percentage of our exports at tho peak
of war business was only to 8 per cent OF the
| total. then It IL probably true that in normal
times. when commerce and industry are rea-
| sonaby balanced between the natlons-ths
perfect state we have often been told--our
exports would not be moro than TO per
cent OF the whole volume.
And yet tho nation stands helpless while
waiting for international conferences to ad Just
world economic condltonsl Is II absurd or
is II pitiful7 The notion wherever It sprang
from that tho United States could go on indefi-
nitely selling Europe such n scale marked
tho months OF the war and immedla tely follow
Ing, Ia foolish. There was no prosperity in
such an unsclon,lflc dslocation of business In
tho first place; because for this great foreign
business the American people were subjected
to system OF proflteering and excess profit
taking which II will require years to blot out.
What is needed II n perfect readjusment of
the American market, the American wage sys-
tenn and the American financial system. Mr.
Hoover, In his koon analysis set forth above is
as right can bc The key to the business re-
vival OF America In the American transportatl tlon
system. Not only should the existing roads be
employing thousands and thousands OF men In
botterlng their service. but new roads. cxtcn,
slons, etc, should be in process of construc
tion.
The constructive and legitimate demand o.
: tho American market, always with us. has never
: been met-due to tho fact that prices are a
! high that great part OF tho consuming publ
refuse to pay them. But IL there was adequate
Il transportation into tho various fruit -growni
and market gardening sections Of the nation
for instance. to use n simple comparison. so tina
products could he moved to consumers readl
and cheaply. tho consumption tonnage OF wha
. Is now known ms Injuries would speedily piac
. all such In tho class OF necessities and staple,
That revival of business In America. whlc
NJ, we have all been looking forward to with vas
- longing. Will not be realized until the eyes O
. politicians, fnsnciers ana statesmen are take
=, Off of Europe and eentcred tho opportuntlo
. and necessities OF the homo land. 1t will b
. discovered that tho very best way to hel
. Europe is to put our own house IN order; th
best stimulation Of export business is to max
:, tho wheels OF industry hum at home
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