The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-30

Representatives of varied interests
spoke, and they spoke to the point.
Every word had been well considered.
and those who simply heard express
ed themselves as having been we'll
paid for the4f. iff@- and attention.
John Barrett Talks.
General interest. however, centered
IN the address of Hon. John Barrett,
director genera! of the Pan~A American
Union, of Washington. He spoke
from personal knowledge of the con-
d!tion of affairs in the Latin-American
countries, He spoke from experience
ana observation, and he told t,ae con-
terence many things which came as
welcome news, inasmucl as the gem
erai opinion of the Central and South
American countries is not Of the high
est He showed that the opinions
Wh!ch many citizens of the United
states hold as to the people OF the
In-American countries is ill-found-
ed He declared that the aversion
held by American citizens against the
people of the countries south of the
United States. is in great measure
without good cause.
If you look fully into the condi-
ton of affairs he said. you will find
that t'le peoples of these countries are
striving to become greater all the
time, and that they have grown in
every way TO 4 remarkable degree.
They are striving for unity of
friendship, commerce, intercourse and
peace, In all their internal strife
there has not been AS many fatalities
as registered in one month in the
awful war now going on in Europe.
And another thing 1t must be re-
memberedthat Of all the little revolu-
lions and internal disturbances which
have aroused the attention of the
WORTH, there IS not one of these coun-
tries against the other. Even with the
disturbances noW going on in Mexico
there is not one of the Latin American
countries at war against another.
There is another thing I wish to
call to your attention. In all your
transactions with the southern coun-
tries, do not call them Spanish-Ameri-
can countries, nor any other name. ex-
cept Latin-American countries. except
perhaps, where the language is
Spanish. Deal with each individual
country on its own bottom. Deal with
Brazil as Brazil. with Argentine as
Argentine. and so on. The people
there, and l know whereof | speak, are
a little selfish. They like to be looked
upon in the true spirit of patriotism.
because they feel that they should \ 1t
!
than any other country
when you send men there for the
purpose CT doing business, pick your
men. Let the man know the power of
bis own plant, rather than be an eX-
pert in the language of the country
and let him familiarize himself with
the wants and needs of the country to
which he may r..
And. above all, deal with each in
dividual country as an individual
Don't tell the people OF Brazil. for
better country than Brazil. If YOU are
selling goods, sell them what they
want. Then you may be able later to
sell them what you want to sell.
Mr.. Barrett said that of all the
twenty-one countries in the south,
Cuba presented the greatest posi-
biliti IS to American shippers.
And it is right here at our doors
he said. Right where we can reach
it, and where We can begin our crusade
for commercial preferment."
The opening of the Panama canal,
said the speaker will prove of vast adj
vantage to us. The three thousand
mile railroad from California through
the Central American republics, Will
give us the opportunity OF controlling
much of the commerce of the western
coast of the Southern American states.
Smashes BugaboOs.
IF Americans go after the trade of
the Iatin-American republics like they
go after 1t at home. there is no reason
why we should not get the major
part OF the business. ] have Travelled
over most Of this country and know it,
possibilities. | want to smash some
OF the hugaboos which have instilled
themselves in the minds Of our peo-
pie
Three-fourths of this vast territory has
never seen q revolution And there