The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-20
South Americans Have Many
Reasons for Distrust, but Bet
ter Feeling Is Coming.
GET QUEER SHIPMENTS
One Merchant Who Ordered
Hardware Received a
- Cargo of COffins,
by CLAYTON s. COOPER.

money In business have had vital ell
feet upon the relationship between the
two Americas. The South American ad-
mires our activity. but at the same time
n mystifled by 1t. His aims may not
be so radically different than those Of
the North American. but the South
Americans method of attaining them Is
quite different. In Latin America our
business men and men OF affairs are
admired often, but the Latin American
can hardly conceive himself as bust
ness man Of the same type as his North
ern neighbor.
There is yet great need for that mu-
stual understanding which grows out OF
a clear knowledge of the difference of
temperament and history between the
North and South American. Further
more, the South American business men.
rightly or wrongly, have been led to
think that they need to watch the
t.'Gringo' or Yankee" relative to bust
ness affairs.
: There is quite a general suspicion OF
Americans in certain parts OF South
America, and one does not travel
through these countries without perceiv-
ing some of the reasons for this sus-
picion. 1t is due both to the ignorance
with which the majority of the people OF
the United States have tried to deal with
the people south of the Rio Grande, and
To the fact that many irresponsible
business agents have exploited these peo-
nile with an unscrupulousness that~they
would never dare to exhibit in the United
States.
Hurt by Adventures.
Many of these business adventures
have sold their goods or promised to
sell them to South Americans. expecting
to have but one chance, ana caring little
about the sentiment their acts neoe Ssar-
lily leave behind them in this land where
memories are long and feelings acute
Our European competitors OF North
America have not been slow to aggravate
and to keep alive this tradition OF the
..trickery of the Yankees" Goods or
dered from the United States and paid
for in advance. never arrived, or, when
they did arrive. were found to be OF
different quality than when ordered. or
damaged through poor packing and de-
iayed shipments. The American traveller
hears in South America more or less
general vail of distressed and helpless
dealers who have lost money through
their attempts to deal with the manu
facturers of Uncle Sans country and
have found it impossible to obtain re-
dress.
These conditions are being obviated
partially at present by such organiza-
tons as the Arbitration Committee on
business established in Argentina
through the cooperation of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, as well as
by such local bodies as the American
Chamber of Commerce of Rio de Janeiro
ana by a growing tendency to discoun-
tsnance inexperienced dealers. The rep
utable American business men (and l
found the great majority or these
throughout South America to be quite as
reputable as the business men at home)
are rising in a united aDd organized way
against the business adventurer who re-
CARDS the South American republics as
easy marks for his chicanery.
GROSS Errors cited.
We predict that the future will see far
less reason for the South Americans to
complain of the "gringo," as the North
American Is called when these people do
not intend to be especially compliment
airy. Wider knowledge and better or
ganixation are intended to protect both
the South American and the North
American alike in matters of business re-
lationship. 1t must be remembered,
however. that in these Latinized nations,
as in Japan, the wounds of the spirit are
more difficult to heal than those Of the
body, and the indifference or disregard
which many a North American business
man has evinced toward the South
American has wounded the Southerner's
pride as much as his pocketbook.
Unfortunately the European war. while
it has necessarily increased, temporarily
at least, the volume of trade between
North and South America, it has also
Il a. s,1N@
commerce between these nations of many
inexperienced shippers OF the North who
have added to the immediate tales of
woe which one hears in these countries
at present.
An injured South American told me
that he had ordered a particular brand
of liquid disinfectant from the United
States and after waiting about eight
months for the order which he had
paid for In advance. he received a cargo
of moth balls. The agent explained the
matter by saying that he felt sure the
manufacturer would remedy the mistake
but this would mean another wait of
six or eight months because OF the
difficulty OF getting shipments.
Another man on the west coast told
me how 80 per cent. OF his order OF
shirts from the States had been stolen
on the way down here because the
boxes had popped open at the first re-
shipment at Panama Another man in
formed me that he still meets the no
tilla men who are engaged on the light
ers along the coast of Chile who are
wearing shirts originally intended for
the gentlemen OF Santiago.
Sent Cofnns for Hardware.
In one of the clubs in Dlo de Janeiro
I met a man with a very mournful
face who. upon finding that I was a
North American, Immediately began to
pour out his visls Of wrath against my
country. When I learned his story,
which gave some cause for his anger, I
had difficulty in looking sympathetic;
his dilemma was SO ludicrous He had
ordered a shipment OF hardware from the
States. and through a tragic mistake of
some shipping clerk. when the man went
TO the Custom House TO receive his
goods, to his utter horror he found that
ne had large cargo of collins on his
hands which were originally intended
for customer in Australia This Latin
American, who seemed to be somewhat
superstitious, was reduced to such a
condition OF CONSERVATION that he almost
lost his power Of gesticulation. He haa
been abliged TO pay largo Custom Uousa
fee In order TO secure the release M tha
= rest OF his goods. which was NOT halr,
20 his injured feelings. SEEING 49,,
amusement, which ! could NOT en,inaiS,
conceal. he added: '"eS
at would be some solace - .,,
.xar expect TO disnosa ., -, NOuIu