Evening journal., 1914-11-27
OUR CITY AND SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.

VA are in receipt Of the following letter from
" r. }. Maclean, formerly president Of the Will
nington Board OF Trade and president of the
Detroit Commercial College, in Detroit Mich:
When ! wrote you recently, suggesting that the city
OF Wilmington, through the Chamber of Commerce.
send commercial agent TO South America to get bust
hess for the manufacturing plants in the Wilmington
Industrial district did not know that any city had
ever followed tho plan suggested but am informed
today that the Chicago Association OF Commerce. we'll
known of the most progressive and efficient
public trade organizations in America. has main
tanned commercial agent in South America during
the past four years, with Headquarters in Buenoa
At first this work consisted of collecting CONNER
cia statistics of value to the members OF the Chicago
Association Of Commerce in their efforts to promote
and foster reciprocal trade relations between the Chi
cago industrial district and the South American re-
Within short time. his work was broadened and
under his direction in suitable location in Buenos
Arcs ne opened sample display room IN ~hlch LOT
nominal charge, the members OF the Association
were given the opportunity of exhibiting samples Of
their merchandise.
quarters in Bucnos Aires viii be enlarged and inn
proved 70 give the representative better opportunity
to obtain South American business for Chicago. The
representative viii be directed TO travel the east and
west coast countries more extensively than formerly
lie viii business men. merchants and importers
individually and In meetings of their trade organi2a-
~tions and viii deliver business talks to these organi
cations from time TO time pointing out what Chicago
Is I'm q position to buy from South America and
describing the merchandise OF interest to South Amer
leans that Chicago has for sale. The Buenos Aires
der the direction OF tho South American representative
Of the Chicago Association Of Commerce. His Office
Will be supplied with caalogs and export price lists
Of the members of the Association who are Interested
IN South American trade
That my suggestion regarding the sending OF "A
mercial commissioner 20 South America TO get busi-
or the Wilmington industrial district is practi-
cal and worthy Of adoption is shown conolusively by
the fact that the plan suggested has been followed
successfully for four years by the Chicago Association
Of Commerce
have sufficient business and sentimental interest
IN Wilmington a
to send competent man to South America as the
Industrial commissioner for the Wilmington indus
trial district Such man should be an industrial ex-
pert thoroughly experienced in meeting men and ad-
dressing public commercial bodies. and fluent and ac-
curate in the of the Spanish language believe
tho foreign and domestic bureau at Washington could
furnish such
would be well received by the Chambers Of Commerce
of South America, many Of which arc among the
leading Chambers of Commerce OF The world.
Now is the time for Wilmington TO act while south
American commercial connections with Euorpe are 20
a great extent suspended Going aiter Soutn Amer
ican business in the manner suggested means in'ieas
ed pay rolls and greater prosperity for Wilmington
You will do well to follow the lead Of the Chicago AS
sociation OF Commerce
Everyone must concede that it is highly desirable
that not only the city of Wilmington but also the
entire United states should do everything possible
to obtain. as great advantage from the European
war a preponderaung commercial interest in South
America.
There are those who have characterized as prema-
ture the plan outlined 10y Mr.. Macean. They say
that the banking credit facilities between North
and South America defective that they must
be improved greatly before great good can be ac-
compshed by a commercial and industrial invasion.
If that be true and If the South American trade be
worth having, then it would seem to be the part Of
wisdom for the merchants and the manufacturers OF
the United States, through their Chambers of Com
merce and their Boards of Trade. TO begin active
work looking the establishment between the United
and the South American nations of banking and
credit relations such heretofore have made it poss-
bic for Great Britain, Germany and other European
nations TO control the South American markets. In
such a movement and in all other movements that
naturally would follow it, the Wilmington Chamber
of Commerce should play its appropriate part