Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-16

| Ii was clear GnaG we must dispose O
the farmers surplus abroad, If he wa
to recover stability and an ability Il
buy the products of our labor.
AS an aftermath of the war we were
confronted with a total DISCRIMINATION
of our export trade. Our exports of wal
materials had been brought suddenly II
an end. But, more than this, the trade
of the entire world was demoralized Il
| the extent that the actual movement o.
commodities between nations was les!
than before the war. We set out on 9
definitely organized campaign to builc
up the export Of our products. To &C.
complish this We -~eorganiZed the De.
partment of Commerce on a greater
scale than has ever been attempted OF
achieved by any government in the
world. We modified our manufacturers
and exporters and co-operated with
them in laying out and executing stra-
tegic plans for expanding our foreign
trade with all nations and in all direc.
tons.
Established Cooperation.
The Republican administration by
this action introduced new basis in
Government relations with business
and in fact new relationship of the
Government with its citizens. That
basis was definitely organized co-opera-
ton. The method was not dictation
nor domination. It was not regulation
nor subsidies nor other artificial stimu-
lants such as were adopted by foreign
nations in similar plight. 1t was the
Government, with all its prestige, inter-
eSted solely in public welfare, acting
through trained specialists in voluntary
cooperation with communities of bust
ness men to promote the interest of the
whole country in expansion of its trade
and its ultimate expression. which is
increased and stable employment. II
was the promotion of initiative and en-
terprise which characterize our business
men, and nowhere greater than in New
England. S;sst a.
In the year 1922 our foreign trade,
upon quanEitive basis, was almost
the same as it was before the war-that
is, If we reduce the values by the
amount of the, imitation of the dollar.
Since that time our trade has increased
steadily year by year, until in the year
1927 our exports amounted to the gil
gantic sum of, $4,865, 600. 000-or a bill
lion dollar increase under Republican
rule. Our imports increased in the past
seven years by over 81 ,675 ,0OO, 900 to a
total of $4,185 100000. There never
have been such increases in a similar
period before in our history.
Today We are the largest importers
and the second largest exporters of
goods in the world. Our exports show
on a cumulative basis an increase of
So per cent over pre-war, while our
imports are 80 per cent above pre-
war. The other combatant nations are
only now barely recovering their pre-
war basis. All this has a very human
Interpretation Our total volume of ex-
ports translates itself into employment
for 2,4Q0, 000S families, while its increase
m the last Seven years has interpreted
itself into livelihood for 100000 addi-
tional families in the United States.
And, IN addition to this, millions more
families find employment In the manu-
facttlre OF imported raw materials. The
farmer has a better market for his
produce by reason OF their employment.
New England Shares.
Nor has New England failed to par
ticipate fully In this great advance.
With perhaps pardonable pride I
may point ont some indication of the
assistance which the Government has
given to this great expansion of our
export trade through searching out op-
portunity for American goods abroad.
/ know OF no better index of what
the Federal Governments contribution
has been In this enormous growth than
the number of requests which come
constantfy to the Department of Com
merce from our manufacturers and ex-
porters for assistance and service of
one kind or another. During the year
La L. =
cooperation the Government at its
various Offices over the world received
less than TOO such requests per day.
These demands have increased steadily
until this last fiscal year they exceed
the enormous total of over 10 900 daily.
Unless these services to individual man
ufactIlrerS and exporters were bringing
positive results in dollars and cents,
we should never have seen this phe-
nomenal growth.
Nor is the Government solely con-
cerned with the sale of our products
abroad. We are deeply interested in
many ways In our imports. One Of the
most intricate questions has been to
secure the supply, at reasonable prices,
of raw materials which we do not
produce. Beginning soon after the war,
certain foreign governments possessing
practical monopoly of such materials
began the organization of controls de-
signed to establish prices to the rest Of
the world, and especially to us, the
largest purchaser. These controls in
creased In number until they embraced
nearly one-third Of our imports and the
undue tax upon our consumers reached
hundreds Of millions of dollars. We re-
garded such controls to be in the long
L. - l.
interests Of both producer and con-
suner.
Backs Fair Price.
We, however, felt we had no COM
plant except in cases where these
methods resulted In speculation and
consequent unfair prices to our people.
We wish to pay fair price for what we
buy Just as we wish to secure a fair
price for what We sell. It was neceS-
Sary for us to demonstrate that the
consumer has inherent rights. Our
Government used its influence to assist
American industry to meet this Situa-
ton, by encouraging the use Of sub
stituteS and synthetic products, and by
recommending public conservation at
times of absolute necessity. Happily
the trends in the creation and manage
ment of these monopolies has reversed
itself, and I believe this question will
present no further difficulty.
The Government bears other direct
responsibilities in promoting and safe
guarding our foreign trade. 1t can
prosper only under sound financial poll
cies of our Government, 1t can prosper
only under improving efficiency OF our
industry In fact, its progress marches
only with the march Of all progress
whether It be education or decrease In
taxes. Foreign trade thrives only In
peace. But, more than that, it thriyes
only with maintained good will and mu-
tual interest with other nations.
One of these mutual interests lies In
the protection of American citizens and
their property abroad and the protec-
ton of foreign citizens in our borders
Tie worlds trading operations are by
necessity largely carried on through the
agency of their own citizens who mi
crate to foreign countries. SO that ir
the pursuit of foreign trade we have