The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-21

Inere Is every reason why they SnOulQ
work together, and not in opposition,
for the development alike of trade,
civilization and power. Japan will
wa-t increasing quantities of our in
dustrial and raw products and we shall
want more of what she has to sell.
for both. Japan is now conducting an
ANIMAL foreign commerce valued at a
sum exceeding five hundred millions of
dollars which represent nearly ten
dollars per head, or a growth of 800
per cent in less than a score of years.
Turning now to Latin America, our
interest should advance almost to en-
thusiasm. Right in our southern front
yard. reaching from Mexico and Cuba
south to Argentina and Chile, are
twenty sister republics, awaiting our
best efforts for the development of
close ties of commerce and friendships
with them. These twenty republics
cover an area of nine million square
area of the United States proper. They
possess a population of seventy mil
lions of people. or seven-eighths of the
population of our growing land. They
conduct an annual foreign commerce
valued at two billion. one hundred
million dollars, which is equal to two
thirds of the entire foreign trade of
II e United States. Last year the share
of the United States in this total of
iva billion, one hundred ,..ricns was
lars. If We made the same effort to
gain our share as does Europe we
woufd coen increase that proportion
:" more than tne billion of dolla.s per
annun.
i.usty Young Republics.
LET US note a few facts that will in
crease our respect for our sister Ameri-
can nations. Into Mexico you could
place Kansas eight times over and then
add Oklahoma Into Chile you could
put our whole Pacific coast; into Peru
all the Atlantic coast states; into Boil
via, Texas three times over; into Col
cmbia, both Germany and France; into
the Argentine Republic all the United
States east of the Mississippi and Cali
fornia added. But vast Brazil caps the
she could swallow up or cover
the complete connected area without
Alaska) OF the United States with room
for Italy and Spain left over.
"Ouut of the Amazon in northern
South America every day flows three
times as much water as out of the
Mississippi; out of the Parana in
southern South America. twice as
much. and both are navigable for
large vessels far beyond the capacity
of the Mississippi Rio Janiero. the
100000 and is fast becoming one of
the most beautiful cities in the world.
Buenos Ayres, the capital of the
Argentine Republic, located In the
southern temperate zone. has
of 100000 and is grow
States, excepting New York and Chi
cago.
Argentine last year conducted
foreign trade valued at over SIX nun
dred millions of dollars $500, 000,ooo)
an increase of three hundred per cent
(30O per cent? in ten years.
They Want Our Products.
"All Latin America wants the agri-
cultural and manufactured products
Of the central west and will buy them
annually to the extent of millions OF
dollars and the employment of thou
sands of laborers if our people will
make the most of our opportunities.
''If these hasty observations awak-
en- a desire for further information |
Republics in Washington, of which |
I have the honor to be head, will |
yladly welcome and answer any le- |
Ultimate inquiries as far as 1t may be |
lble.
eff you ask me what is the one
great thing that must be done, and
lone quickly, to improve our COM
nercial relations with Latin America.
would answer without hesitation
hat it is better shipping facilities in
he form of fast mail, passenger and
Express steamers flying the American
lag ana running between the pTlnCl-
,al ports of the United States and
hose of Latin America. AS your
minister in many different countries,
ny one great chagrin has been the
.bsence Of the American flag over
'essels in ports visited by me and the
that ninety-five per cent of
ur exports were carried in foreign
Another phase of the ques-
ion is this: We have absolutely no
mail, passenger and express
teamers now to carry mails, business
men and freight requiring quick de-
livery and to take care of the i'm
nense trade possibilities in South
america.
"a dozen steamship lines of the
est kind, well paid by their govern
nents, carry mails back and forth to
Europe. provide satisfactory accom-
nodations for the. hosts of business
men who buy and sell, and deliver
riders, in half the time of the few
low going semi-freight lines that
team between the United States and
'outh America.
Ocean Mail Bill Was Defeated.
when the last ocean mail bill was
efeated in congress, all the papers
n Latin America from Mexico to
suenos Ayres expressed profound re-
ret and declared that the United
states, while preaching closer reIa-
ions with it's sister republics, did
lothing practical for that great cause
t is my conviction that unless we
waken to the serious side of this sit
Iation in the near future we will be
distanced by Europe in |
he struggle for commercial suprem-
cy of high seas. 1t is gratifying to |
now that public sentiment is rapidly
rowing in favor of action by our
government which will remedy this
ituation and hope that the next
onsress will pass a bill that will help
o place the United States in the first
lace among the governments which
ecognize that commerce is the life
Hood of nations.
Tribute to the Kansas Spirit.
my final suggestion is this. Each
ime that I have returned from nv
rips I have been prouder that I am
n American. It is only when I come
~ -