Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
DEMOCRATS PLEASED |
Take Comfort From Consular
Reports on Foreign Trade.
CAPTURING MARKETS
CLAIMED THAT INCREASED
NAVAL FORCE IS NOT NECESSARY

Suggestions Sent by Representative
of the Government for the Bene-
fit of American Merchants.
Democrats are taking good deal of
comfort from the reading of the daily con-
sular and trade reports that are being is
sued by the Department Of Commerce and
Labor. These reports for sCme time have
included special reviews OF the commercial
situation abroad. and they have run very
largely to discussion of the conditions
that American manufacturers Will have 10
meet In order to capture the trade of the
world The clear inference from all these
reports is that American manufacturers
can have anything in sight If they will
only comply with the demands of the for
eign trade so far as long credits, cheap
goods and other conditions concerned.
Not a single report that has been made
to the Department of Commerce and La
Dor during the period of this active discus
sion has limited at any benefit that would
be secured 10y the American manufacturers
by having large naval display anywhere.
Material Increase Of Navy Opposed.
This is the feature of the reports that is
giving the democrats great satisfaction just
now, because they are likely to make pub
lie clanor in the next Congress when the
naval appropriation bill comes up for dis
cuss!on against any material increase in
the naval establishment. There has al
ready been considerable resistance in the
House to any policy for enlarging the
navy in way that some of the leaders
there regard too rapid.
While the republican influences in the
House and Senate control the appropria-
tons for the navy. it is the intention OF
some of the democrats next winter to force
to the front the suggestions made by spe-
cial agents of the government who have
been travelling abroad. especially in South
America. As stated, these suggestions have
been along the line of having the American
exporters pay more attention to the meth
DDS of business abroad so as to comply
with the demands of the trade they are
seeking and to correct MANY of their
methods of business.
Extension of Trade.
The democrats will claim that American
trade can be extended merely by following
these precepts that are being given out in
reports BY the Department of Commerce
and Labor. They will claim that neither a
great navy nor snip subsidies are necessary
SO far as the extension of trade is concern
ed. They will claim that the trade of the
world is open to the merchants of this coun-
try whenever they abe to capture IL.
American prestige abroad they say is suf
hcIenty high to back up the commercial
agents of any firm that sees fit to go abroad
for business. They will urge that trade
knows no friendship, politics and no
prejudice in the face of advantages offered
10 customers by the merchants.
In the case of any country discriminating
against the goods of the United States they
argue that special action should be taken
and they are strongly inclined to back up
Inc republican policy of reciprocity in order
10 meet such necessities wherever they
arise But so far as the idea that American
prestige is concerned they say the reports
of the special agents that have been sent
out TO study conditions abroad are sufficient
proof that American manufacturers can get
the trade of South America and other parts
OF the world as well, merely by carefully at
tending 10 conditions that prevail in the
markets that are entered?
Mistakes of American Merchants.
Among the mistakes that are being made
by American merchants pointed out by
Special Agent Hutchinson in letter from
Rio de Janeiro is the practice among many
manufacturers of sending out circulars
printed in English with the English system
of weights and measures. Such circulars he
declares merely result in waste of postage.
He relates other practices that he says
are waste energy and endeavors to i'm
press upon the exporter the necessity of ap-
preaching the foreigner the foreigner
would have TO approach him II he should
come TO this country 10 sell his goods. That
Is, the American must take the viewpoint
IN every minute matter OF detail that is
taken by the man to whom he seeks to
Sell goods.
The prestige that Mr. Hutchinson rec
ogniIes as playing an important part in
the markets OF Brazil Is that which per-
talns 10 the conservatism of the people
who are inclined to continue to buy goods
they are accustomed to and from merchants
they already know. But that class of con-
serNdtsm suggests the added necessity of
complying strictly with the wishes of the
people In relation TO the goods that are
10 be offered them.
Advantage Of German Agents.
He also declares that as a rule American
commercial travellers are far from having
the training and the ability of commercial
men OF other countries. notably those of
Germany, who he says are in the forerank
The foreign commercial man speaks several
languages and talks to the merchant OF
the country in which he is seeking to do
business in his own tongue. He instanced
Americans who undertake to deal with
the merchants by employing an interpreter
which results in failure.
Ihen too, he says the Americans have
not the technical knowledge of the Ger
mans who have been trained In that re-
spect before they undertake the work of
pushing their goods in the market The
commission and travelling expenses in ad-
ution. while the American is paid AT a
lower rate with less desirable conditions
10 attract him. The result is TO allow the
German an evident advantage
ohase's Reopens Next Monday After
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