The Washington times., 1934-01-11
MILLER SCORES
DEFAULT|NG
NATIONS
Approves Boycott Of Debtors
Who Won't Pay; Benefits
to U. S. Cited


voiced today by District of Co
lumbia business men and women,
through the Washington Cham
ber of Commerce of the intense
fication by the Hearst newspaper
organization of its Buy Amer
ican" campaign.
The group, which forms the
nucleus of the National Capitals
business leaders, gave its whole
hearted support to the new
slogan-"Buy American, Don't
Buy From Defaulters" rs"-designed
to impress the American public
with the necessity of boycotting
imports of nations which have
failed to make war debt pay
mentS in full.
Taxpayers Burdened
Not only does the influx of inn
ports have a deleterious effect
upon our own industries, it is
pointed out by leaders of the
campaign, but such wholesale
defaults as occurred when the
last payments were due place adj
ditional burdens upon the Amer"
lean taxpayer.
The chambers Endorsement is
peculiarly appropriate since it
originated a "Buy-in- washington"
campaign Is years ago which
parallels locally the lines laid
down in the national movement
being directed by the Hearst news
papers. This local campaign is
still being actively conducted by
the chamber.
Declaring that we are getting
a bit tired of playing the role Of
international Santa Claus" Will
liam c. Miller, president of the
chamber, says there is no question
as to our obligation to give buy
ing preference to those nations
which have dealt most fairly with
us in the past"
New Slogan Praised
The full text of his statement
follows:
"Any patriotic undertaking
such as the Buy American
movement sponsored by the
Hearst newspapers deserves the
whole hearted support of Wash
ingtOn business men, and the
new phrase added to this slogan
Don't Buy From DefaulterS'
has an added appeal to the
citizens of a nation which is
getting a bit tired of playing
the role of international Santa
Claus.
"The Buy American princi-
pie, rightly conceived, is mere
ly the application, on q nation
wide scale, of the Buy i'm Wash
ingtOn' movement which was
originated some Is years ago
by the Washington Chamber Of
Commerce and which is now
generally accepted as a proper
motive for the intelligent direc-
ton of local buying policies.
Aids Unemployed
at is, of course. evident that
money spent in Washington
helps to increase the local vol
ume Of business, which means
more money deposited in the
banks, more money spent in
stores, more jobs for the un-
employed, and more progress
along the road to economic re-
cOvery.
I'm the national business
field there are similar reasons
why we should buy American
made goods, when available, in
preference to fOreign-made
goods, and / do not think that
anyone will question our Obli-
CATION to give buying preference
to those nations which have
dealt most fairly with us in the
past.
ut is evident that reason and
common sense must guide us
in applying any nation wide
educational program of this
character. Under certain COM
petitive conditions it may prove
necessary for us to enter into
export relations with foreign
countries, on the Yankee trad
ing principle, which relations
would necessitate some slight
deviation from general rules.
1T is important, also, that
we do not give unwarranted Of
fense to nations in financial
difficulties whose real intent
may be to discharge all Obliga-
tiOnS in the future. With these
explanations am glad to add
my support to this splendid
movement to further economic
patriotism in the United States"
The chamber, which was or.
ganized in 1907, has a member
ship of more than 1900 business
men and women in Washington.