The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-27


i'm" One of the characteristics of
imperialism is it's control and mono
poly Of the world supply of raw ma
terial. AS this is accomplished the
struggle between imperialist nations
begins to center about the control OF
possible, future sources of raw ma
terial.
mot only are the already discover
ed sources of raw materials Of inn
portance to finance capital" says
Lenin, "but also the possible sources
of such materials, as technique is
developing very fast in our times, and
the lands which today are useless,
may tomorrow become useful.
Just as the trusts capitalize their
property at two or three times their
value, counting on the possible future
profits and on further results OF
monopoly, so also does finance cap
ital in general tend toward the &C
QUESTION of as much land as possible,
no matter what kind, where, or how,
counting on the future sources of raw
materials.
The restrictions on the export of
rubber by British producers, imposed
by the Stevenson act, has created a
monopoly on this very important raw
material that has sent American
rubber manufacturers scurrying all
over the world seeking possible, future
sources Of rubber While it is true
that the American rubber manu-
facturers are not losing any money
by the present restriction of rubber
(the rise on the crude material being
transferred to the purchaser of the
finished product) large producing capi-
talists feel very uneasy when foreign
imperialist power has complete con-
troll over a much-needed raw material.
American Imperialism does not like
to be placed at the mercy OF COM
petitive nation for any of the impor-
tant raw materials.
While rubber holds the center Of in
terest at the present moment, there
are other star actors on the interna-
tional economic stage which concern
American capitalists. There is an Of
fetal Franco-German control over the
price of potash. The Chilean govern
ment manipulates the price OF nj
trates; and Americas reaction to this
monopoly gives us very vivid picture
of Imperialism at work thru the in
strumentality of the Tacne-Arica Com
mission, enslaving a smaller nation
that accidentally possesses a much
needed mineral. The Dutch govern
ment controls quinine; Yucatan, sisal,
from which is made binder-twine used
in American wheat fields.
The United States consumes 9OO,-
600, 900 pounds of rubber yearly A
little over a year ago the price of
crude rubber to the manufacturers
was 35 cents per pound, and with the
passage of the Stevenson act by Great
Britain, the price jumped to $1.10 the
pound; it now hovers around 80 cents
per pound. At the same time, the
amount of rubber imported has been
restricted by the rubber planters.
The immediate situation is clearing
up. The price of rubber is gradually
going down and the supply is becom-
ing more abundant. But it is not the
intention of the British imperialists
to relinquish this very important mo-
nopoly, which is especially directed
against the United States, as this
country is the worlds largest user of
crude rubber.
The fact that the American tire and
rubber goods manufacturers are not
so much concerned with the immedi-
ate situation as they are with the
future source of supply is indicated
by the unanimity that prevails among
the leading men in the rubber indus
try in their search for future supply
of this raw material.
Though little actual sowing Of rub
Der trees has been undertaken, F. A.
Soldering, president of the Soldering