New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-13

that are of real value, and it has been
especially disheartening to these men
TO observe the character of some Of the
new explorations that have started
since 1914. They have had a dificult
time TO overcome the prejudice
aroused by the marauders who pre-
coded them, and, having accomplished
so much by hard work, they now find
Spanish wholly inadequate to express
their views concerning some Of the
new adventures.
The number of wholly irresponsible
trade promoters who are offering their
services to business houses and of al
legged associations claiming complete
information concerning all kinds of
business in the tropics IL legion and
the sort of business men who are
caught by irresponsible schemers is
amazing.
The time has come for American
business men to stop dismissing all
these disconcerting reports by saying:
"Oh. all this is all right. but il is very
greatly exaggerated" We should not
close our eyes to the fact that these
evils exist. Our job is to remedy them
as far as possible.
In the first place, the heads of Ameri-
can manufacturing concerns should in
form themselves by reading up on
these countries and by talking with
people who have been through them
They should not be content TO delegate
the task to some undcrstudy who has
not the vision or Imagination to APP
preciate what may be involved. This
study should not be superficial in char
acter, but the effort should be made to
really get at the facts, analyze them
and get the best criticism possible on
any plans made for developing new bust
ness. Only men whose characters and
regulations are unquestioned should
be dealt with in establishing new con-
nections, and young men from the
United States sent 10 foreign stations
should be selected with even greater
care than that exercised in placing men
in home organizations. Beyond this
however, our business executives should
20 and see some of these countries for
themselves. In no other way is it pos
sible to understand them. In planning
TO 60 the provincialism which is 40
often characteristic of our European
tours should be put aside. If the peo-
pie Of the tropics are not accustomed TO
taking a heavy breakfast in the morn
ing. that does not by any means indi-
cate that they are uncivilized or do not
understand modern ways. If the hotels
do not compare with elaborate estab-
lishments of New York City, there is no
occasion to conclude that the country
is perfectly hopeless and does not want
American merchandise. Any one of
common sense can get along very well
in most of these countries with a little
patience and philosophy.
If we are going to develop our bust
ness in Central and South America it
will be by employing the same methods,
so far as fundamentals are concerned,
that bring success in the home markets.
We cannot consider present conditions
when we have unusual opportunities
in these new fields, but we must dis
count the future and plan for stability.
We must also be prepared to. spend
some money and take some losses at
the outset, just as we would in building
up new territory at home.
Moreover. as a part of any campaign
promoting our commercial interests, |
believe it is the duty of every American
business house to exert all the infiu-
ence il can to discourage and suppress
the activities of those bringing dis
credit on American business as whole,
abroad as we'll as at home.