Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

process of lifting the masses and diff
fusing the national wealth among
them But certain European observers
look upon the process as inevitable,
with American industries abroad as
agencies and object lessons in its
spread.
The same fears that have been felt
over the rise of American branch indus
tries have been expressed in regard TO
the great sums of American money in
vested In foreign enterprises. BY now
the amount has reached an aggregate
of sec, OOO, 900 000 The charge has been
raised that American capital thus Is
used to finance competition with indus
tries here at home and to the oetriment
of American labor. Thought occurs as
to the immense good this surplus Ameri-
can capital might accomplish II devoted
to public health, to social betserment OF
every kind here at home. But again we
must face the world we live in. The
day is far off when public sentiment will
demand that profits aboye fixed level
shall revert to the public welfare. And
until that day arrives this money will
continue to seek the largest usefulness
and returns and the power viii con-
tinue to exert itself. We may be sure
that If more highly profitable uses can
be found for 1t here at home, here It
will stay.
AS IL Is bk1C DIOuuCIlfE
of the United States has been developed
| to a point where we can more than sup
ply our home market, even though it is
by far the richest market in the world
| Mass production has been brought to
! the point where we must seek an ever
expanding market elsewhere. In the
| light of this fact, these vast sums Of
American capital invested abroad, these
| American branch industries il other
countrie- with their tendency to raise
wages anc living standards, may be
operating to develop just that richer
and broader market which we need.
American POwerhOuse.
1t is the great & ..erican powerhouse
sending currents of energy in various
| forms to points that show the most
likely ability to absorb this power We
even have more than $4,000 900 con-
tr1buted to churches and schools in
foreign lands. 1t is mistake, too to
arrogate to ourselves sole right to the
title of the worlds powerhouse. British
and other foreign funds invested here
in our railroads, in our industrials
and public ut ''ties-in times past have
played a part in our development, In
proof tina. our own investments NAV
nave a like effect in bringing other
parts OF the world into buying and con-
Stunning power for our eventual benefit.
IN tact, despite the current business
lull that is general this worldwide eco
non1ic quickening of late has been such
tilat we were well advised indeed in re-
Vlslng our tariff protection at the few
points needed. AS for the "tariff war"
which certain critics of the tariff have
made into q DOGGY. it is Just as well
that we recall few hard facts.
Inc TACT seems to have been over
looked mat curing the last three years,
ana before our tariff revision was be-
gun, the various countries of Europe nut
nsU erect hundreds of tariff increases
OF tnelr own, besides hundreds of dis
crlmlnatory regulations. France has
sought TO bar our motion pictures alto
gether. England has fought them
1taiy has repeatedly raised her tart6
against American automobiles, with two
SUN advances prior to the recent in
crease. 1t is not recently, but over a
period OF some years, that Italy has kept
70 per cent OF all motor purchases to
those of Italian make. Most of the
countries that have protested against
our new tariff have even higher tariffs
OF their own, and the people of Eng
Iand--Supposedly free-trade England
pay in customs duties twice as much p.r
capita as the people of the United
States.
Complaint for Future.
~ VIII be time enough to kick at our
CarlH When other countries bring their
wage scales and living standards into
parity with ours. When that day comes
there VIII be no competition with cheap :.
foreign labor. 1t will be time enough
70 rear for the stability of American in
ouStry and labor when other countries
Surpass America in industrial brains and
enterprise. While it may be "Pollyanna
IaIk 10 say so, nevertheless believe
that Gay will never come.
On the contrary, 1t may well be the
function OF America to. utilize her sur
Plus power in lifting other countries to
our standard of living and level of pro-
auction, and this without depriyine the
army of American workers of a liberal
return on their skill and labor. Unless
am greatly mistaken. that is what we
are witnessing now, in this process of
Settlrg excess American money and en-
terprlse to useful employment abroad.
The money and energy thus expended
beyond our borders may be depriving
america OF huge philanthropies but this
qeprlvation comes in a day when phi-
lanthropies are not being voluntarily
Undertaken on any such colossal scale
and when there is no pressure of public
opinion or regulation to compel them 10
be undertaken, No other effect on our
people is apparent so far. Accepting
conditions as they are, then, and taking
the long view, it seems to me that this
use OF our surplus resources can operate
only to our ultimate good.