The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-30
the people of South America and that
they own more than half the land. They

lie pSOplS VI SOulH kAHSlICd diiu tidI
they own more than half the land. They
have a great empire OF undeveloped re-
sources, and the chances for American
capital and trade with them should be
great. We pay them more than $50, 000,-
900 every year for their products, chiefly
coffee and rubber, and in return they are
now increasing their purchases from us.
1t is of vast Importance that the rela-
ton between the two peoples should be
pleasant.
AS far as I can learn Col Bryan ap-
preciates this and is doing much to pro-
duce it. Since he came a friendly feeling
for the United States has sprung up.
During the war with Spain he practically
secured the support of this part of South
America for Uncle Sam, changing the
sentiment which was veering toward
Spain.
At first the papers were full of pro-
Spanish editorials. Shortly after Minis
ter Bryan arrived they began to change,
and the Commercio, which Is the leading
paper of Brazil, came out for the United
States. The Cidade do Rio, which had
been antagoniZing US, not only advocated
the support of the Yankees, but it
printed an edition in gold in honor Of
the minister. This paper contained an
article headed America Forever and
in it was a picture Of Minister Bryan In
gold. Kind expressions were made in the
other papers, and today l find the press
universally friendly to us.
There is one thing Col. Bryan has done
here which might be initiated with profit
by many of our diplomats. He has cul-
tivated the BraZilians rather than the
foreigners. He has realized that he is
minister to Brazil and not to the diplo-
matte colony. While he has treated the
diplomats well, he has worked solely for
the United States, and has made it. his
business to be friends with the Brazilians
He is perhaps more widely known than
any other of the foreign ministers, and
is popular with the army as we'll as with
the civil officials.
The result is when he wants anything
of the government he is pretty sure to
get 1t, and 1 think he will do a great
deal for the extension of American trade.
He expects, l am told, within q short
time to begin series Of visits to the state
capitals, Investigating the resources of
the country and establishing friendly re-
lations with the governors. If he does this
he will not only bring every state Of
Brazil closer to u.s. but will give our busi-
ness men and commercial travellers a
standing and an entree which they have
never had before. OF course all this costs
money, but Mr.. Bryan is well-to-do, and
he will probably spend all of his salary
in keeping up the dignity of the Ameri-
a year, which Is about 72,0OO Brazilian
milreis, and with which, as money goes
further here than in the United States,
he can do very well.
CHAT WITH CONSUL GENERAL.
Our consul general to Brazil is Mr. Eu-
gene Seeger, of Chicago He Is we'll
known in newspaper circles throughout
the West and has practical business ideas
pl,0 1i,,cr
in the business part Of Rio de Janeiro, SO
that you can hardly go through the city
without seeing his American flag He tells
me that our people do wrong in sending
their catalogues to the South American
business men. The men here cannot read
English and the catalogues go into the
waste basket. He says that drummers
should not be sent down here unless
they can speak either Spanish or Por.u-
guese, and that only the best men should
be chosen for the purpose. Said he:
Among the American frauds that come
to Brazil are sample sharps. These are
men who persuade American firms that
they can get orders here for their goods
They get lot of samples from each
firm, but when they arrive instead of try
ing to drum trade they sell the samples,
getting more on different pleas from time
to time. I had some experience recently
with two American drummers who were
playing this game. After they had sold
out and spent their money they turned
to gambling, and I finally had to help
collect money to send them back home.
These same sharps were advertised by
our newspapers under great head lines as
being about to go to South America as
advance guards of American trade and
manufacturers south of the equator"
Is there much Of this, Mr.. Seeger?''
asked.
Not gerat DEAL" was the reply, "but
1t is well to let our merchants know how
they are liable to be taken In and our
trade disgraced. No one who has not