San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-27

treaty. In the first place, the voice
of the different sections through repre-
Sc ltative commercial bodies should
he heard, and their offers for Mexican
trade be solicited. It is not a
political treaty, but a commercial
one, that we want, and this implies
that also several features of interns.
tional commercial laws should be
to convince the Mexican government
of the utility of such an arrangement.
1t Is to be presumed that the old
schedule of articles proposed for free
importation will serve as q basis for
the treaty and If so, mistakes will be
made as regards important branches
OF our industry, as well as regards
the future betrerment of the major
portion of the Mexican people aud uI-
innate results lost sight of. Among
the articles enumerated in that list
are such as are consumed only by the
wealthy class, who could well afford
70 pay any reasonable amount of
duties for what are considered there,
at present, luxuries, and the goods
needed by the bulk of the nation, are
left out.
One of the almost universally used
articles of commerce in Mexico is un.
bleached domestics, the free intro
duction of which is out of question,
because Mexico has factories produc-
ing it in excellent quality, and the
same may be said of the coarser
wooden goods. Next In rank are
printed cotton goods (calicos), almost
gone into disuse in this country,
while In Mexico this staple is largely
sold, the quality being limited only
by the low purchasing power of the
people; but once let this article be
sold &C price In comparison with
the wages earned in that country and
there will follow manifold demand.
The manufacturers of prints, not
wtthstanding the superior, grade of
goods they produce, complain of be-
ing unable to find q market and right
here it Is, where we'll framed treaty
might open the doors not only to give
renewed impulse to this important
branch OF our industry, but also at
the same time favor o vast
mass of people, enabling them
to clothe themselves far better
than heretofore. Clothing 10 partly
q criterion of q nations civiIizA alton,
and If this axiom is granted, we can
well say that while we look towards
our own enrichment, we also help our
neighbors to take step higher on the
ladder of progress. This is also ap.
plicable to bleached sheetiDgs, the
production of which has reached such
q perfection in the U. s. that they
compete favorably with those Of
British manufacture, in times past
considered unapproacha6le when
prices and quality were looked at.
Why American cotton goods should
not be undisputed factors of the Mex
lean trade and South American mar
kets, and our manufacturers have 90.
solute control, is . question we'll
worthy the investigation by compe-
tent minds. I am afraid it will be
said that all this is not exactly to the
purpose for which this congress has
assembled, rs apparently IL deals
with subjects pertaining to sections
east of the Mississippi; but acting
on the broad principle that
what will be Q benefit to one
particular section of our country, ulti.
nately results In benefit to the other
poipo, ~ wiiA UO ouuteSou bu6t gu0 III.
PRODUCTION on larger scale than here.
tofOre of American bottom goods will
eventually enlarge the commercial
interests of the trans Mississippi sec.
ton. To do this In a more particular
way we should advocate the perma.
nent exhibition of samples at trading
points, principally In places east y
reached by Mexican merchants, &C
such cities and towns like 81 Paso,
Laredo and San Antonio. The boards
of trade in those cities should
take hold of 1t and make it
u prominent feature to have
manufacturers samples on exhibition
and also request of the proper parties
in Mexico samples of the products
which likely would meet with quick
response, and the Mexican govern
ment, with its well known liberality,
may even be Induced to appoint
special commissioners to reside In
this country. having sole charge of
such exhibits aud by furnishing need
ed information, advance and bring
about in practical way, closer mer-
Co n lie intercourse.
CONRAD ROTH.