The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-03-14
Congressional
Neus Letter

An IDEA OF some editorial reaction
to the policies of the Secretary Of
State in attempting to force an ex-
tension of our foreign commerce
through reciprocal trade agree
ments, etc., is given in an editorial
from the Washington Herald Of re-
cent date, headed, "Mr. Hulls Lat
est" It is as follows:
Let no sun set without the &C
complishment of SOON good deed
was the advice Of Marcus Aurelius
Let no sun set without the pub
licizing of some new crack-pot plan
seems to be the slogan Of the
Washington idea chefs.
THE latest economic whimsy-
whamsy emanates from the grave
and reverend skull of Secretary of
State Cordell Hull.
He has issued orders to Amer
lean consular officers and Com
merce Department agents through
out the world not only to act as
statesmen in selling American goods
to foreign countries, but to HIGH
PRESSURE THE SALES OF
GOODS OF FOREIGN COUN-
TRIES TO THE UNITED STATES
ITO sell America to the rest OF
the world is legitimate enough.
But since when has it been the
function Of our diplomatic repre-
sentatives and other agents abroad
to try to sell the whole wide world
to the United States in definite and
disastrous competition with our in
dustry and labor?
1T is said that Mr.. Hull has in
view the abandonment of the for
mer American policies of merely
seeking to enlarge American ex-
ports.
"And why? Our proper business
Is to sell the world. Let the world
peddle its own goods.
ITO make our Consuls and other
foreign representatives the sales
men for Russian vodka, French
wines, italian hats, English Oxford
trousers and Brazilian nuts, must
be a bit of the heavy humor that
is historically connected with our
State Department.
TT is an idea that was evidently
taught in the University of Bolog-
ma"
AS an indication that the latest
and most amazing idea of the Sec
rotary of State is bearing fruit, and
bitter fruit, it is interesting to note
information just issued by the De
nm WIS - xxy1,s p1,
shows that exports increased in
January over December by per
cent, while imports advanced
amazingly 23.8 per cent. AS a re-
suit our favorable trade balance to-
tailed only $9,217, 900 in January as
compared to $38,421 900 in Deem
Der, and $36,515,0O0 in January
1884.
Our imports have increased over
the month of December nearly $685.
100000, and over the month of JAN
uary, 1884, more than $31 ,000, 900,
while our exports have increased as
a result of this policy of the Ad-
ministration only $5,000,000 In
figures. Clearly, an exchange of
goods which compels us to pay six
for one can hardly be considered in
the best interests of the American
producer.
If the results thus far attained by
this policy of trading American
markets for hoped-for markets for
American products in foreign coun-
tries is a fore-runner of what is to
come, we can expect in the very
near future a total loss of our bal
ance of trade and very decided in
crease in the ranks of the unem-
ployed.
After all, one should never lose
sight Of the fact that the vitality
important thing in connection with
trade or commerce Ia the work
hours involved, and when we i'm
port products we in reality import
labor hours. If we can produce
these things ourselves and still i'm
port them we do so at the expense
and the sacrifice Of our own ci+i-
zens.
Another important matter which
our internationalists consistently