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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1914)
,u& - K.4 " "'""""MiMNMHHIBMMMMMMHnHaMBaMnanaHBBmMM I : ; i The Commoner Ivv iLiLiLMiivi j. diiin, iljlsi i vsiv. inu rn.ur rue i ur VOL. 14, NO. 6 Lincoln, Nebraska, June, 1914 Whole Number 662 ENCOURAGING OUR FOREIGN TRADE A Speech Delivered by Mr. Bryan at a Banquet Given in Washington, D. C, May 27th, 1913, at the National Foreign Trade Convention Gentlemen, a few months, ago I visited New York to attend a banquet given by thoso inter ested in Oriental trade, and I was very much interested to meet those there assembled and to hear what they had to say,, I think you must have here tonight even more, if I am not mis taken, Mr. Straight, than we had then. It is a larger gathering than I had expected and I atn therefore delighted in proportion. You have several speakers here tonight, some of whom can deal with the subject from the standpoint of a merchant's or trader's experience. I can not and yet it is not at all inappropriate that the department of state should be represented. Secretary Redfield's department and mine are thevtwo departments " that are most tntimatelr " connected wittf.'fcii$'-wbrk that our people do ojit side of the country and for the. department witli which I have the honor to be, connected I desire to say a few words. I have given to the news papers a part of what I am going to say, and I think I had better read it to you, so that I shall be sure to say to you what" I told them I would say and then I can add whatever I wish after that. I shall not say anything afterwards to oontra dict this, but In order that it may be in the paper I have found that unless you give it in advance you are not sure of getting it into the paper in order that it may be in the paper I am going to read it; as it is written. "It is tho earnest purpose1 of the department of state to promote commerce and close indus trial relations with other countries. So far as it is possible to do so, it is our desire to obtain for Americans equality of opportunity in tho de velopment of the rosources of foreign countries and in the markets of the' world. It is our in tention to employ every agency of tho depart ment of state to extend and safeguard American commerco and legitimate American enterprises In foreign lands so far as it can be done consist ently with the sovereign rights of other govern ments. It should bo distinctly understood, how ever, that this government in its efforts to ad vance the interests of its citizens abroad will know no favorites. Honesty of purposo and en deavor, and ability to perform obligations as sumed will command at all times its hearty sup portL While this gdvoiriment' wishes to expand its foreign trade and to encourage thoso who seek in foreign lands a field for American labor and capital, it cannot in any way assume responsi bility for or guarantee the financial standing of Americans, who engage in commercial or indus trial enterprises' beyond the boundaries of tho United States. As occasion has arisen during the past year, American diplomatic and consular officers have been instructed tb employ all proper methods for the extension of American business interests abroad, but at the Bamo time they have been di rected to refrain from advocating the projects of one concern to the exclusion of other Ameri cans who are its competitors in the same field of enterprise. If a wrong be done an American citizen in his legitimate business relations with a foreign gov-, eminent American diplomatic officers will bo in structed to use their good offices to secure just treatment for such citizen. This rule applies to financial as well as industrial engagements, but as to the nature and degree of tho support which may bo given to any particular enterprise, tho department must, in accordance with its uniform practice, exercise its right to decide each case independently as it arises according to Its merits and always with tho understanding that tho support promised by this government does not imply any obligation to interfere by force or by tho menace of force, in the financial or political affairs of other countries. This administration, earnestly desirous! of in creasing American 'foreign commerce and of widening tho field of American enterprise, seeks to cooperate with tho thousands of business niQn in tho United States, who with honesty of pur poso and commendable ambition strive after new opportunities where they may employ that ability and energy, which havo already made the United States pre-eminent among the nations in tho industrial development and commercial progress of tho world." I do not know how sanguine you gentlemen may be a man's success depends to a large ox tent upon the fact that he is sanguine; a man -without hope undertakes nothing. Yet, how over sanguine you gentlemen may be, I believe that none of you surpass mo in great expecta tions, so far as this nation's development is con (Continued on pago 7.) The Anti-Trust Bills ' On another page will be found tho three anti trust billa which represent tho president's interpretation- of tho anti-trust plank of the Balti more platform. Tho Clayton bill went through the house by a vote of 275 to 54, the interstate commerce committee's bill providing for super vision of tho issue of railway stocks and bonds was passed by a vote of 325 to 12, and tho Covington trade commission bill did not require a roll call. . Forty-one regular republicans and fifteen progressive republicans voted for tho Clayton bill and only one democrat voted against it. Of the twelve voting against tho committee's bill, eight were republicans and four democrats. Surely this ifl vindication enough. It will bo difficult for BilUer the regular republicans or the progressive republicans to attack these measures, prepared as they have been by democratic com mittees, with the advice of a democratic presi dent and passed by tho house of representatives practically without opposition. Tho administra tion moves on, recording ono success after an other and winning approval all tho time. W. J. BRYAN. CONTENTS ENCOURAGING OUR FOREIGN TRADE THE ANTI-TRUST BILLS ANOTHER VICTORY DEMOCRACY IN BANKING SHALL ILLINOIS DEMOCRACY COMMIT SUICIDE? STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR DUNNE ON ILLINOIS SENATORIAL SITUATION RURAL CREDIT LEGISLATION MANUFACTURED BUSINESS DEPRES SION SECTIONALISM IS DEAD TEXT OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-TRUST BILLS Another Victory The president has won his fight for the re peal of tho freo tolls law. It was a protracted struggle and has been hotly contested. Three-fourths of tho demo crats of the senate supported the president and about one-third of the republicans. The Com moner's position on the subject has been stated and Its congratulations are now extended to tho president and to tho country. Tho senate Is now ready to take up the anti trust bills and they aro certain" to be passed. The only question is when. The rule entailing un limited debate In tho senate so seriously re stricts the enactment of remediary legislation, that the majority finds It slow work to give expression to the verdict of the people pro nounced at the polls in 1912. W. J. BRYAN. . .' 1. 1 i ' ; JX .tMkL'&li liit.