El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-13
HE Pan-Americar

conference opens it's sessions in
Washington today. 1t is the first
conference of it's kind to be held and is
intended to awaken the commercial or
ganizations, the business men and the
general public If both North and South
America to the Importance and posi-
bilities of Pan-American commerce and
trade.
Stretching from the Rio Grande
southwark, across the Isthmus of Pan
ANA, over the great valley of the ANA
! Zon, along the vast reaches or the
Andes, as far as Cape Horn and the
Straits of Magellan, is a territory of
wonderful fertility and tremendous ex-
ttent. 1t includes. roughly, what is
meant by the comprehensive term,
Latin America Nowhere in the world
surpass this in the wealth of its re-
sources or the possibilities of it's SOIL
The surface of its development has
barely been scratched
Traditional Hatred Overcome.
More and more, In recent years, the
attention of the United States has been
directed to the Latin American coun-
tries. with their limitless but latent
possibilities in trade and commerce
The traditional hatred of the Spaniard
and the Portuguese for the Anglo-Saxop
The best thinkers in the 20 Latin Amer
lean republics and many OF the best
thinkers in this country, have turned
their attention to the problem OF now
best to knit closer the relations among
all the republics of the western hemis-
phere- To recount all that has been
achived in this direction would re-
quire volumes. But while much mas
been done, it is but small part of
"a inc IN he cd
Director general John Barrett Of the
Pan-American union projected the
meeting which opens today. One of the
chief objects is to promote commerce
among all the western republics. The
conference was conceived in the belief
that 1t would be Of advantage to bring
together under one roof large numbers
of the people of this country who want
to know more about Latin America and
experts who can give them the knowl-
edge they seek. At the same time to
bring into contact with them, Latin
Americans who are anxious to know
more about the United States. 1t is
believed that the exchange OF ideas
and information will be valuable both
to this country and to Latin Americans.
Brings Republics Together.
Since James G. Blaine set out earn
estly in his great policy of promoting
SOOQ I6ldllOIlS III TIE " &c lCA Il u ~
the periodic meetings of the Pan
American congress have had a per-
ceptible effect in bringing the repub-
lies of North and South America closer
together. The conference beginning to-
day is in furtherance of work thac
has received the attention of numerous
master minds in the last two decades
1t was one of the foremost achieve
ments of EIihu Root as secretary Of
state to put Latin America and the
United States on firmer footing Of
friendship. with better relations mas
come increased trade. Secretary OF
state Knox has pursued the same end
But just now there are special rea-
sons for unusual efforts in this direc-
ton. These special reasons relate 20
the opening Of the Panama canal The
time for the opening Of the canal is
drawing near. If this great waterway
proves to be as useful as anticipated, 1T
will cause a wonderful quickening of
Pan American commerce. Already, this
trade is enormous. It is growing yearly
by leaps and bounds, but its growth
thus far is slight compared to what is
expected when the canal opens It is
believed that unprecedented grown IS
in store for the whole Pacific Coast re-
gion, reaching from Puget Sound TO
southern Chile. and that enormous pen
efits will also accrue 20 the whole east
ern coast Of the two American con-
tinents Holding that belief, the NOV
ing spirits in the Pan-American union
are getting ready for the canals COM
pletion-
More Than 600.
Something like 100 commercial or
ganizations of this country and up
ward Of 500 American firms and indi-
viduals are in attendance at the con-
ference, to say Nothing of a large rep
resentation from Latin America All
the diplomatic representatives o. the
Latin American republics in Washing
ton are attending. In addition, num-r-