El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-15
AMERICAN BUSINESS SHOULD
GO AFTER THE MEXICAN TRADE

HIS IS the time for American trade to get into Mexico
with both feet and dig IN and become entTenched
firmly before Germany gets back into the held as d
commercial competitor
Mexico becoming tranquil after the years of warfare
There still is danger in the interior and IN spite Of
what optimistic consus may say, caution IS advisable in
considering going to any place Mexico where there not
strong garrison That IS because Of the continued opera
tons Of small bands Of bugands like Villa, though their
operations constantly becoming fewer and less bloody
is only the isolated weak places which the bandits attack
now, and looks as II gradually even these VIII cease IN
the meantime the better protected sections and all the
larger towns and cities resuing normal peace time &C
tivities rapidly.
So far has the work Of renovation and regeneration gone
that of the revolutionary battles have generally been
obteIated Business is opening up in score Of lines and
this makes great opportunity for American trade Other
nations position to sell to Mexico what Mexico
England, ally war, keeping up what over
seas trade she can but can do little because OF the requ
oH OF shipping Tor war purposes and to care for the BIT
ISL civilian populace at home. Germany is out Of the
running completely The most dangerous OF trade
pettor Germany Is unable to manufacture or to deliver
goods
But Germany viii not always be out Of the commercial
field because the viii end time. When 1t does
end, Germany viii make desperate efforts regain all lost
customers and make many
We ought 10 be doing Japan doing. Japan, having
driven Germany out Of Asia by force of arms, IS
cemenng trade relations between Japan and every
Of the Orient japanese merchants getting in the
ground floor Manufacturers are getting customers every
where IN China, the Islands OF the western Pacific the
Philippines and in India. It is safe say that when
the ends, every German travelling who approaches
merchant in Asia viii find that little brown Jap has
been ahead Of him. Coraled the customer and built high
fence around him
We have the same chance in Mexico German firms there
doubtless VIII patTOnze Germany after the war, posi-
bic to do and remain In business at profit German
merchants however, immensely in the minority It IS
the business interests and the industries owned by Mex
and Of other nationates than Germans which
need to cultivate. It they for whom German travel
ing and commercial agencies lurking IN Mexico
now awaiting the end Of the The German agents
handcufed because they cannot get goods to de-
liver. Our hands are not tied.
Americans who have goods to sell should cultivate Mex
ice study the language business methods the system Of
weights and and financial conditions applying
10 their customers They should not be rash the matter
Of extending credit but by all should give
able credit well satisfactory goods It viii require
investigation to determine what reasonable credit IS Rea
sonable credit VIII be Just enough to enable the customer
to carry his business at profit to himself and enable
the seller to get his money when 1t is due and enough
to keep continual relation between the American sup
ply house and the Mexican purchaser
It is secret among Americans having knowledge of
Mexico that American have been outdone by the
foreign concerns Americans probably because Of their
prosperity and large sales at home have paid attention
to the Zine points that the foreigners particularly the
Germans have watched Americans have been careless IN
shipments Of goods and careless In their billing and they
have been exacng In the matter Of credits The Amer
can travelling man has generally been stranger to Mexico
and Me1cans The German has studied his customers
learned their language and has had patience with them