The Washington herald., 1917-04-22
Seen And HEARD
4 BY GEORGE Miner
ROBBINS IN LATIN-AMERIcA
Prof. W. R. Sheppard. of Columbia
University. Says Racial Idiosyncra-
sies Prevent Development
of Country.


New York. April S.-Business men all
over the United States are beginning to
surn their eyes toward Latin-America
mere trade possibilities loom large in
ne future. In the past these same men
9ve hardly glanced in that direction al
2. II did not seem worth while.
But now with tho trade channels. all
anged by the war, they are beginning
take notice and realize the great COM
srcial changes in the republics to the
nth OF us. They have also discovered
hat for years Germany has seen these
opportunities and systematically been at
work to monopolize them. A few years
more and Germany would have such alb
solute control that the United States
would not have had a look-in anywhere
Ienes the American business man IA
tartinE to take notice now and threatens
D hustle pretty soon.
Writers and speakers on political econ
my have also taken up the matter in
dead earnest and done no small share to
arouse interest in II. Conspicuous among
these experts and enthusiasts IS DR.. w.
r. Sheppard, professor Of history in Co
urnbis University. He has some tdeSs
that are much out OF the usual run and
Tzstly different from those ordinarily
oppressed He believes that the racial
diosyncrasies Of the Latin-American pop
ilation are hampering the development
OF Central and South America. He also
believes that there cannot be much i'm
provement IN conditions there until these
idiosyncrasies are eradicated.
There are several problems that the
iatin-Americans have TO solve" said DR.,
A Ehephard, before they can have really
4 up-to-date governments. They must learn
how to be good losers at elections. They
I, must learn to be happy without holding
public office. They must learn how not
to regard a public office as a private
trust
'The South Americans are inclined to
mistake democracy for license and justice
m for vengeance. Until they rid themselves
II " these ideas revolutions will be COM
4 IN"
n Or. Sheppard tells me that in his opin-
Il IN the United States has been the guide
philosopher and friend Of the southern
republics. This in spite Of the fact that
N many people assert We have persistently
a lodged our responsibilities down there
II He points out that the United States
ID ,eiped them win their independence from
" spain and Portugal has aided them with
advice and by means of the Monroe doc
trins has guaranteed their protection
from European powers. This govern
ment has also acted as an inspiration in
forming their own
'The leaders of the new republics in
ls22,'' continued Dr. SHEPPARD ''envied
the rapid development of the United
States since its beginning as an indie
pendent country, and they dreamed OF
the possibilities of their own domnions
Mineral resources were plentiful and the
population Of all the countries exceeded
e3ooe, ooo.
In comparison with the United States
the twenty republics of Latin-America
are nearly three times the size Of this
country. Mexico alone Is seven times
the size Of Italy. Colombia is twice as
big as Germany. The Argentine Repub-
lie Is half the size OF the United States,
and Brazil Is considerably greater in
area than this country. Yet the leaders
have not succeeded in their ambitions.
There are several physical obstacles
which have held back the development
Of Latin-Ameria- The very yastness of
territory is one. The variety Of the eli
mate is another, and the fact that the
mineral resources have been hard to
4 reach is a third. The populations are
l scarce in proportion to the areas Of the
Various nations and they lack racial no
nogeneity. Most Of the people are In
.ians, but there are also a great many
1aniards and negroes, and the relations
tween the white, black, and red ele-
snts are inharmonious. Moreover Eu-
an immigration to South America has
IN slight in comparison to that Of the
lited states and incoming capital for
ternal improvements has been small In
mount.
with the rise Of certain nations, like
Brazil. Chilli, and Cuba, to prominence,
other Lattn-Amertcan countries have be-
come distrustful and relations between
he different states have become
.trained"
DR.. SHEPPARD advocates the publishing
of a who's Who Of Latin-America and
also of a comprehensive encyclopedia OF
that region as well as a biography OF
good books for Americans to read for
Information on the subject.
''Our government has tried to foster
Pan-Americanism IN various ways" he
continued. Several international con-
ferences have been held since 1889 which
have dealt with matters OF common inter
est to the states represented. These have
been bodies Of elaboration and PROPOSE
tfon only They had no legislative powers
with wills to be obeyed and mandates 70
be inforcsd. They offered only acquatn'
lance with alliance and guidance without
tutelage-
several financial and scientific confer
encss and through joint action with indi-
vfduaI countries has attempted TO safe
guard the interests of the smaller and
weaker states.
Financially the United States has es-
/ tablished the dollar exchange, lent mon
ey to and bousht securities from the
southern countri 8.
Tho effective relations between coun-
tries depends upon the attitude Of the
man IN the street whose preJudices
control the public opinion Of his country.
The average citizens Of the United States
and Of the Latfn-American countries are
mutually ignorant of each others affairs,
and each needs a better understanding OF
the other"
So let's get acquainted.
tOOpydEht, lsu)