The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-11
Our Government
How Il Operates
HUNTING THE MARKETS
By William Bruekars

TT rs untrue to say that commerce
knows no barriers, yet it must be
explained that it knows no barriers
Insofar as the age-old law Of supply
and demand is concerned. Where
the demand is sufficient. there COM
merce will flow just as surely as
water seeks it's own level.
Hence, a great commercial and
Industrial people, If they are to re-
main so, must be kept acquainted
with where that demand is. Unless
they are apprised, and appraised
quickly Of the existence Of a mar
ket, there 10 a very real danger that
some enterprising group elsewhere
will become the early bird that
catches the worm.
without fear Of contradiction, ]
think It can be said, the fact that
American export trade has captured
so much of the world trade has been
attributable to the ever watchful
eye of the bureau OF foreign and
domestic commerce. In this unit
Of the great Department Of Com
merce has conferred the work of
keeping a finger on the worlds bust
ness pulse.
For instance, regularly the bureau
makes public reports from the rub
Der estates of Ceylen. With equal
regularity, 1t receives and dissen.
mates the latest details of the Brad,
ford wool prices. Again, it re-
ceives and passes to the trade here
the facts about the newest tariff
DEGREES Of every country that occu-
pies position OF importance in our
export market. and that Just about
covers the entire world.
Taking things chronological Wet
us examine first into the methods
employed by the government in get
ting this Information.
There Is what is called in q gem
eral term, the foreign service Of the
United States. That corps COM
prises representatives Of the Depart
ment of State as well as the De.
partment of Commerce. The De
partment Of Commerce men, obvt.
ously, are trade men. Those of the
State department may not be so
classified, for some OF them-many
of them, in fact--have other duties
that are more important to the ex.
ecutiYe department which they
serve.
Ia every important capital, there
is an official attached TO the en-
bassy or legation who is called o
commercial attache. In addition
there is stationed at the same post .
trade commissioner. The former In
q State department man. while tbs
latter Is strictly what his title Inn
plies. Trade commissioners are as
signed as well to many commercial
and Industrial circles.
In addition to all Of those mem
toned, there are consuls and vice
consuls galore, literally scores Of
them.
Each of these individuals has been
trained to examine the economic and
financial conditions of the territory
under his supervision; each has
overlooked no opportunity to study
the trade needs, the market poten-
tilities, and appraise the problems
related to the selling of American
products and buying for American
consumption.
They will know, for example,
whether the railways Of Brazil are
going to need additional rubber hose
for their passenger car cleansing,
whether the land tax in Spain Is go
ing to work q hardship on holdings
there Of American corporations,
whether the teak production of
Siam Is rising or declining, or
whether some nation Is promot-
ing an industry OF moment In the
production OF carbon black or other
chemicals.
10 show another phase Of their
work, let me call to attention
q specific Instance. The Spanish
throne was tottering. American In
vestments In Spain, while not as
large as they are IN seine other
countries, approached 500 900. 900.
The question In the mind of every
person interested either through his
own holdings or the holdings Of q
corporation In which he was stock.
holder was what effect that political
condition would have on his money.
The trade commissioner and the con-
sui were sending daily dispatches
% Washington. relating every de-
velopment on which they could gain
information. When the monarchy
fell and q de facto government was
set mp, those dispatches did not
cease. Indeed. they came faster
than ever. The result was that off,
Gals of the Department OF Com
merce knew asmost Instantly what
difficulties faced the American In
weston, the American exporter or
the American importer. and let 1t
be said here that they had q YER
liable deluge Of inquiries concern
ing them.
Not all Of the facts thus gathered
are handled with that celebrity.
More often the information Il as
sembled slowly, methodically, care
fully. from all Of the sources pub
lie and private 10 which an Official
representative has access Stats