The Washington herald., 1907-12-24
SOUTH AMERICAN INVASION
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.

When Secretary Of State Root declared
In a recent public address that it was
time for American manufacturers to get
together in a moTement to have the
United states cone into her own with
respect to the South American trade, he,
perhaps. did not think that his admoni-
ton woald bear fgiit Immediately. But It
is in a fair way % do so. A movement is
now on foot to send the biggest drummer
the world has wer seen into the Latin
American republics. This drummer will
represent all tte leading American mara
facturers. He VIII have, if plans now in
the making az not so awry. not only the
backing Of fe American manufacturer,
but also the learty approval Of the United
States goveTlment, and will give TO the
world it's geatest object lesson in trade
getting. IA viii demonstrate 70 Latin
America tfit her Yankee brother has an
ample saply of the things she must buy,
and that.while he has neglected her in
the past. he will pay her due brotherly
attentiopin the future.
When ne American manufacturers send
this drrumer into South America, it viii
be in te shape OF a great trade exposi-
ton. / Will be in the highest sense Of
the wCd an exposition of American man
u1acti ers and American ingenuity. 1t
will Z long pun. a strong pull, and a
pull Jtogethev to bring to America the
s, O0)O0,0 900 of trade that has been al
lowd 20 go by default 20 Europe every
Yea Charles W. Kohlsaat who has had
moe experience in foreign exposition
wok than any ether man in America, and
wb has been a commissioner for all the
reent expOsitions. is directing the move
rrnt. II is the plan to have the eXposi-
t)n in BuenOS Ayres next year, beginning
te Yankee trade invasion Of the south
cn continent at that point The eXposi-
ion will be held In buildings already con-
structed. 1t will remain in Argentina for
six months and then viii go TO Rio ia
neiro Caracas, or some other point COM
plethg the South American circuit in
time to reach the international Exposi-
tiOu TO be given by the japanese at Tokyo
in 1912. Every provision viii be made for
the bringing of the buyer and seller to-
gesher. and for the demonstration Of the
superiority of American wares. 1t is in
tdded that the American manufacture
sail have ample opportunities TO study
tie wants Of the Latin-Americans. as well
Is TO show them his goods and teach
hem that what America makes is the
BEST that can be had.
In short, the exposition viii be the ad-
vance agent of a great revival Of Ameri-
can trade in the southern republics. The
lowest coin of the realm will be charged
as admission, thus giving everybody an
opportunity TO see and learn. 1t is pro-
posed that the exposition company shall
furnish statesmen who speak Spanish and
Portuguese. and that it shall also under
take the translation OF catalogues and
other trade literature into these Ian
guages. The whole aim will be to give
the manufacturers of the United States
the maximum amount Of advertising and
trade boosting at a minimum expense and
the smallest possible amount of pains.
II is planned that every chamber of COM
merce in the country shall have the
privilege Of sending a representative to
the exposition 20 study conditions and 20
report 70 the city sending him what the
prospects are for marketing manufactures
of the kinds made in that city, and on
the best way to get firm and lasting
foothold in the export field. The whole
endeavor viii be to use every idea that
Europe has successfully used in the pro-
motion of foreign trade. and in addition
thereto train the guns Of Yankee inge-
nuity and resOurcefulness upon the propO-
sitiOn.
It is not intended to ask the United
States government for any aid While the
projectors heartily hope that the govern
ment will take sufficient interest in the
project TO make a fine exhibit of its own,
there will not be a cent asked for the ex-
position itself. Many prominent officials
Of the government have already expressed
their deep interest in the enterprise, and
il is expected that there will be no diff
Guilty IN securing Federal exhibit. But
the United States will come in on the
same footing as other exhibitors. The
different States. and perhaps the leading
cities also viii be invited TO make ex-
hbits. There win be an advisory board
of directors composed Of certain govern
ment officials, the governors Of the vari-
Gus States. and the presidents of the
chambers Of commerce throughout the
country.
Perhaps the most serious commentary
ing nation is the fact that its manufac-
turers have stood by and allowed Europe
to control seven-eights Of the trade with
Central and South America, while they
come in for the crUmb-llke one-eighth
which remains. BY every natural law
the United States Is entitled 10 seven
eighths OF this trade, yet to-day we are
permitting even our mail to go to Latin
America by way of Europe The United
States has to do its banking with these
countries through Europe. The people OF
the United States have been so accus-
toned 20 patting themselves on the back
and feeling good over the fact that our
exports have gone above the billion dol
lar mark. that they have lost sight of
the other fact that two-thirds of it was
foodstuffs and cotton, which need no
drummer. but which the world wants
while only one-third Of It is in manu-
,actures-
While there are other nations which
dso sell the surplus product Of their
farms. It is everywhere considered wiser
10 add to the value Of the produce of
fo.est. field and mine by turning il into
a manufactured article and then export