The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-13
BUSINESS METHODS IN CHINA.
The Ail-PowcrfuI "Compradorc.'
Who Corresponds tn Our Buyer.

Al the present time, when the affairs OF
China are being so much spoken and writ
ten about. IL is absolutely necessary that
manufacturers ana merchants should make
themselves acaua tDtsd with the gietho4s Of
dong business ia China. for they may rest
assured that unless they conform to them
10 very great extent al their efforts viii
be in vain. II Is absolutely necessary that
manufacturers sending goods TO China
should be represented there by Intelligent,
respectable and competen, agents.
These agents slould be authorized. and
be capable Of discussing Industrial ques-
tons. cd Of awaiting themselves Of the
best MAJ kets. and they must also recognize
the conditions under which business Is
usually done in China The Belgian consul
al Shanghai points out that the !n3ispensa-
bic Intermediary tor. as he is called in
England. a "nlddlsnnanl between the
European and Chinese traders. Is the com
pradore'' whose name Is derived from the
Spanish compfador-i. e., buyer.
The earliest foreigners WHO came 10 set
tie In China for purposes of trade carried
on business on the principle OF exchange
only. receiving merchandise In return for
that which they brought with them and the
interior Of China being closed 10 fore gn-
ers. they were obliged to have recourse 70
Intermediates 10 procure what they re
CURED THIS method has been adhered To-
tine Of the merchant princes" whose
profits We're so enormous that the heads Of
foreign firms did not ccndescend 10 occupy
themselves w.th their business. bu; Jeff
ire conduct Of their affairs 10 their com
pradores." The natural outcome ~ such
an arrangement was that large portion
az the profits was poCketed hy the COM
pradores. The rtsui; was tina, the COM
pradoTss amassed wealth and gained he
important position which IS theirs today.
A the present t'm0 however. the method
II conducting business has compici ely
changed. the merchant princes have dis
appeared from Jhe sceD". leaving only the
memory - profits and extravaganza; but
The results OF Their methods are SIN felt
releSrspaic Communications and ;he open
rig up OF RAPID and easy routes ty steam
er. especially by means II the Suex canal
nave introduced a new generation IN The
ChsBa<a markets, w.ts saial "a nstal and
sometimes With none a. all. bat wi,a a
love - work anc spiriE OF economy. Al
enormous campe' sgior has been created
aruors thesa ne~comeis-au w2ykers-a
keen. constant struggle. N which the cid
wealthy :irnS have succGTbel Tho role
NJ ''e1~u pradcge' has thus beer modified
Ee continues IS before Ia holf AL ,he bus
mess .0 his hands both liz hUy0S aod sell
irr markets. hut "a these professions he
aas adde's Al Important oHe-tA4s o.
m. acs )ea}er
u tuav be asked WY THIS costly AMI
gv.ncus wld1 emsu - oot suppressed. AND
Il may b.. answered. because Il : tragas~.-
he ard because 3 arna that had as -eog,t.
as4S-rcf wraid $50 70 business TAese
mttt.sf~en have >esn incorporated fog q
la"g Nrc. -hetr es~r~-af 50 is ne rie-as:
sr3 ros' tmrrrtsnt in Caloa. and arv
at-soa v.sAU~ to 81 huste~ss utn a ta--
cte- a~-u fl.st deal ar~: with the .'oan0era-
drrss" T. trader tries - tra3e Street
tr s- s~"ovca - SO many NAYS tsa, ne
casters 81 rr-u'u - waaf ave eaEei "5la
<Hs ns" z~t t'A.~3. il s. oo}@ 1e refreru.
hefsd IS - esserts2Ny conservative coup-
t-y vse-e -u cs;3e,!scr! custom has tEe
.-vra - as