Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Our Progress in Latin America
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

for the money. British bankers pro,
tested and finally half of the loan was
placed in Great Britain and half in the
United States. The British bankers
disposed of the bonds with difficulty,
the Americans with ease
In all branches of business, Amerl.
cans are coming to the fore. Several
large contracts have been awarded
American firms by great South Ameri.
can municipalities. American meat
packers are rapidly extending their
facilities in Brazil and the Argentine.
Americans are building South Ameri.
can railways. In countries where
the English guage and rail were rapid,
~ becoming the standard before the
war, the American measurements are
In fair way to do so now.
Our progress in Latin America has
been thus summarized by William C.
Wells, statistician OF the Pan-American
union:
We have extended our Latin.
American trade to lines that we never
before sold in those countries; we
have taken up all Of the business drop.
ped by Germany and Austria, and have
gained upon Great Britain
What share of this trade we will
hold after the European war" he adds.
depends entirely upon our efficiency
in manufacturing and distributing"
This last question as to what share
OF the trade gained during the war we
will hold after the making of peace, Is
the one OF greatest present Importance.
The war has made us for the time be.
Ing great manufacturing and export.
Ing nation. What part of our sudden
growth has the mushroom quality?
The munition business Is necessarily
temporary. Much Of the trade in food.
stuffs and fabrics to the warning ma.
tions must also be greatly curtailed
after the war. But in Latin America.
the demand will not be greatly modi.
fed. The chief difference will be that
the European nations, with great debts
to pay, will face us in keen compet;.
ton.
One fallacy entertained by many
Americans is that these nations will be
too weakened to be formidable. The
testimony of all experts, and all the
precedents of history are against this
conclusion. Horrible war is, from a So
cial and humanitarian point of view,
and too cruel price to pay for any
boon. but it has amost Invariably acted
as an industrial stimulus. Europe will
lay down arms, and take up business.
better organized. better disciplined,
hardened and trained in body. grimly
determined in spirit
Ovf skill as manufacturers and our
organization for selling will be severe.
ly tested. Only those industries which
can produce a better article for the
money and are organized to hold the
market, will win out. This Is the
opinion Of the trade experts. They be-
lieve that in some lines, such as iron
and steel manufactures, we will hold
every inch we have gained. In others
we must inevitably lose. These losses,
however, will be valuable as a lesson
in the need for national organization
and policy in foreign trade relations.
Meanwhile, what of the countries we
are dealing with? They are progress.
ing far more rapidly than we are.
Their populations are multiplying at
an unprecedented rate. They are at
once pushing long frontier into a
rich wilderness and building up met
ropolitan civilization. Buenos Ayres
is now one OF the great cities of the
world. It has been estimated that at
the present rate of increase, in fifteen
years it will be greater than Chicago
and become the second American city.
All the strength Of these lusty young
countries is going into building and
conquering nature. They are looking
to us for funds and tools with which
to work. If we are to share in their
brilliant future, and realize the Pan
American ideal, we must not fail them.
.s'rho h1uff nf Washin pton and or the