The Washington times., 1915-03-01

MS knife so much that he couldn 10
nearly so much work.
Opened New Line.
So It turned out that the discovery
of the difference in alligators opened
new line of business. 1t was a business
in magnifyng glasses, with which the
buyer of machete could make sure
whether he was getting the American
or the German knife!
The discovery of that difference be-
tween the alligators made II possible for
the buyers to select their goods. ana
they all fioSked back to the American:
standard article all over South and Cen
trail America. and they hold the business
| strictly on quality.
Perhaps this little story will justify
its telling, as an illustration of a. condi-
tion In Latin American trade that Is not
80 we'll understood as it ought to be.
In a number Of lines. American goods
have come to be the leaders strictly on
quality.
Thus, the authorities know that the
products of the United States Steel
Corporation have practically ousted
| those of Germany and Belgium from
important sections OF Brazil They have
done 1t on quality.
Have Also Won Way.
Likewise. the agricultural implements
! from American manufacturers have
| won their way to acceptance on the
! ground that. like the Collins machete
declared to be Of better material. bet
ter design. better finish.
American prestige has been especially
established in connection with long
| line of specialties. In addition to steel,
! iron. agricultural implements. may be
| mentioned tools, sewing machines, sad
dlery. boots, shoes. and leather goods in
general. typewriters. adding machines.
sewing machines. and many other
| articles.
! Despite that banking facilities for
! American use are wanting. and that
transportation is bad. American business
| tory basis. For one thing, American n
statesmen are declared to be the best
that get into South America. Many Of
| them go without even knowledge OF
the native languages. and have to use
! interpreters. No matter. They get on.
. There is constant advice to American
manufacturers to make the kind of goods
the country wants; not to try to com
pei the buyer to adapt himself to Amer
lean ideas Of what he ought to want
| This advice in good many cases Is
justified but there is another side to It.
Have Little Confidence.
The Germans and Relgians have varied
their products so much and so freely
! that the South American buyer has less
!
| American and English. To duplicate a
previous order to a German house may
| result in bringing a consignment of a
materially different article: and the
South Americans have met 80 many dis
! appointments in this way that they In:
| cline to stick to their American and
British connections In order to be as
! sured that they will get the thing they
thought they were ordering.
| In textiles. as rule, the Germans beat
! the Americans. because--so 1t Is eN'
plaincd by the experts--the Germans
| make better textiles AT the same price
| or equally good ones cheaper. The Ger
! mans, Spa anish and Italians all take bust.
ness away from the United States in the
| low grade fabrics. while in the higher
classes of cotton goods the Germans
French, and English have the advantage
! over the United States In knitted goods
| thv Germans have everybody beaten. li
! felt hats nobody has managed to gel
into the same class with the Austrian'
| and the Italians. In glassware. the Ger
lmans and Bohenians have the call Some
| American business has been developed
| but il does not stand up before this com
petition just as the Belgian and German
steel goods do not make good as against
| the American.