The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-03-22
SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE
Transient and Permanent Trade of the United States
With It's Sub-tropical Neighbor
Paper Read Before the Prison Chautauqua by Mr.. L. j.
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have appeared in the American
press dealing with the golden busi-
ness opportunities of South Amer
ican countries has not been with
out effect. On every hand are to
be seen evidences of our CONNER
cial vigor and business enterprises
on the South American continent.
Some people are rather inclined to
regard this happy state of affairs
as a mere flash in the pan, with
momentary advantages due to the
war. Facts, however, speak for
themselves and show that Ameri-
can fnanciers and business men
are now exhibiting live interest
in the commercial relations be-
tween the republics of the North
and South.
One may travel in any part of
the southern continent and discov-
er American made goods every
where, although not to the exclu-
sion of British and other European
manufacturers.
There are many of our Ameri-
can business firms who are sending
their representatives to South
America. with the intention of es-
tablishing a permanent trade be-
tween the two countries. But the
transient travelling man is of two
kinds: The first is the man who
rushes down to South America
without any knowledge of Spanish
or even an understanding of condi-
tions, or an appreciation OF the
the people, and who expects to
reap a harvest of cash orders as
soon as he lands on southern soil.
Such men find that the South
American merchants are able to
secure sufficient goods to supply
their needs and the demand for
necessaries, and that they can wait
for better times before purchasing
luxuries. They often lose the ex-
pense of their trips and return
disillusioned but wiser men, with
no enthusiasm for South America.
The second sort of transient travel
ing man goes down to South
America regularly, making Rio de
Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos
Aires, and in fact all of the impor-
tant cities every few months. He
speaks Spanish and knows the
trade. He explains carefully to
his customers what the manufac-
turer has to contend with in lack
ing shipping facilities, and keeps
them fairly we'll satisfied. He also
impresses on his house the neces-
sity of filling orders as they are
accepted. This sort of man does
much to preserve and to stimulate
our South American trade, and add
to the high regard in which re.
sponsible American houses are
held. These men work in cooper.
alton with the United States con.
suls, and the business men OF
South America look forward to
their visits with pleasure.
The business men who go to
South America permanently may
also be divided into two classes.
There are those, fortunately a
small number, who settle there
with the idea of making as much
money as possible in the shortest
possible time. They take little in
terest in the language of the
country in which they are to live
or the form of government and
social conditions. They deem
themselves of superior race, ano
consider the average South Amerl'
can idle and unprogressive. They
do the South American no good
and return after a year or two
completely ignorant of the customs
and the tendency of their ideals
and of the beauty Of their language
The second class of permanent set
tiers is composed of men that tht
banks, construction companies, in