Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08
BY THOMAS ]. KEEFE,
General Manager American Motorists
Association.

hSSOClatlOI
What has become of the time hon
oved slogan, "See America First?"
Why are no widespread, emphatic
1ontinuing efforts still being made 10
call the attention of all Americans to
the natural. historic and other glories
of their own land?
How is it that the American public
is being allowed, without a murmur, to
spend more than 100000 900 year
abroad when much OF that money might
be expended in this country with great
profit to the tourists and business in
terests alike?
These are some Of the questions
which come to mind as one studies a
situation which has developed during
the last few years and which, on the
bases of Federal Government figures,
is seen to be growing in significance
constantly.
Slogan Seems COntrOvcrted.
Put in the fewest possible words, It
seems as though See America First"
has gone by the boards and See Any
Place But America First" Is the watch
word of many tourists. A few years
ago. under the impetus of the See
America First" campaign, hundreds of
thousands of tourists turned from pro-
jected foreign trips and sought to ex-
plore the manifold beauties and points
of interest in their native heath.
See America First" is not a potent
cry today. This does not mean that
the volume of motor touring in this
country Is not increasing, but it does
mean that there seems to be more
strenuous efforts put forth by those
advocating foreign tours for Americans
than by those who we're won't to stimu-
late domestic travel.
If any one thinks that the economic
side of this matter is not important
and these days every one seems to be
thinking first about economic factors
let him give ear to an array of sta
tistical data, not lengthy but potent,
made available by the United States
Department of Commerce.
As already stated, American tourists
now are spending abroad more than
100000 annually. That money
goes out of the country and while some
of 1t theoretically comes back in the
form of increased foreign buying power,
for American goods most Of 1t remains
abroad.
$2S9,OOO, 600 Spent in Canada.
OF this sum, it is estimated that a
total of $289,000,000 was left in the
Dominion of Canada by motorists last
year. This is the largest single sum
spent outside of this country by a
group which may be accurately and
precisely designated as a motorist body.
More than $40O,00o,0o0 fell into the
willing hands of European hotel keepers,
restaurateurs, shopkeepers, railroads,
etc. These are vast sums and espe-
cially significant at this time.
During the past year at least 4,500,-
600 American automobiles entered
Canada. This represented a Is per
cent increase over the preceding year,
and, unless all signs fail, 1880 will
chalk up another substantial gain.
Things have been made so attrac-
tive to tourists over the Mexican bor-
der that about $40000,000 is being
spent there by Americans, many of
them motorists, of course. The West
Indies and Central America are getting
a $50 10000 chunk of United States
money, and citizens permanently re-
siding abroad account for about $40,-
600, 900 more
There one has, In something more
than a nutshell. situation which OBJ
servers are agreed is worthy of more
than passing attention. Now, as never
before, it is felt is the time for Ameri-
can money to be spent at home and in
getting acquainted with America. There
are, frankly, two sides to the matter.
Americas legacy of gorgeous natural
beauty is one of the greatest In the
world. Not to participate in it is to
sustain a vital loss. To spend $780,
10000 abroad when this country could
well use at least a portion of that pur-
chasing power is quite as deplorable.
Some may feel that 1t is the in
dividuals own business whether he
chooses to spend his vacation in the
United States, over the Mexican Dor
der, in Canada, the West Indies,
Europe, Asia, Africa or anywhere else.