The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-02-28
GRADUAL INCREASE
IN Foreign TRADE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2Z-The
most recent venture Of the Democrat
ic party in the field of prophecy was
last year when the Republican Con-
gress was drafting a tariff bill. Dem
ocratic leaders predicted that if a
tariff should be enacted IN lines Of
protection, the result would be 10
erect a tariff wall which would not
only prevent other nations from sell
ing to us, but would cut off our ex-
port trade. This they asserted would
be particularly true of trade with Eu-
rope, and more especially with those
nations which are our debtors through
war loans.
The tariff law went into effect IN
the latter part of September. Trade
statistics for October can hardly be
taken as a decisive proof of the eff
fects of the tariff, for trade had not
yet adjusted itself to the new duties.
But if We ignore October trade, and
November trade also, in order to be
more than fair, the figures for Decem-
Der utterly disprive the Democratic
! theory of the effect of a protective
tariff.
In December, 1921, we exported
merchandise to the value of $685.
100000, while in December, 1922, we
shipped abroad merchandise to the
value of S344,0O0,0O0, an increase of
$4S, 900 900, or about IA per cent. Il
we had believed the Democratic pur-
veyorS of dependency, we would have
expected a falling off of about 40 pei
cent in exports, but instead we had
an increase of IA per cent.
But the figures are impressive wher
we consider those with regard to Eu-
ropean trade exclusively. In Decem.
Der, 1921, we sold to Europe goods tt
the value of S155, 100000, while rol
December, 1922, the amount was
about $751;, 200, 200, an increase o.
S32, 0O0, 900, or more than 20 per cent
The increase in sales to Europe was
greater than those to other cont
: nents.
If the analysis be narrowed down
ito those nations that are our debtor
as the result of war loans, the same
trend is shown. In December, 1921
{ we sold to Belgium goods to tn
e, value of $6,274, 600, while in Decem
5 Der, 1922, the amount was $8,940,00C
an increase of more than 40 per cent
: Comparing these two months, Ou'
d sales to France increased from SIT,
100000 in 1921, to $25,000,000 i
3 1922, or almost so per cent. Gu
: sales to the United Kingdom in
creased from 500 600 600 to $4,000.
600, or more than ID per cent.
In 1892 the Democratic part
thought a Republican tariff was run
: ming the country to destruction an
) as a result of the election Of that yea
the party was given an opportunity I
enact a low tariff law, which brougf
= on the panic of 1898. Good time
were restored with the reelection Of
= Republican administration in 1879
Again in 1912, the Democrats ascribe
= all ills to the Republican tariff ar
the high cost of living, and predicts
the establishment Of satisfactory col
- ditions by the reduction Of the tariff
- which was to bring with i a reductiC
a in the cost of living. The low tari,
70 was enacted, there were hard tim'
and unemployment, and the cost
living continued to go up. Wax o
y ders saved American industry fro
: the worst depression in par history
ri In its present failure az . prophs
the Democratic party is running r7
alto FORM