The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-08-06
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


ness that is difficult 70 measure in dol
lars, yet it is so real in valu" that few
dollars can be made without it. The
man who sells and the man who buys
meet on the platform of good will and
do whatever transactions are made.
The good will'' of the trade is in its
nature based upon the good will IN the
minds of the men trading. 1t is my
trust in your fairness, and your trust
in my fairness that brings US together.
The man or the firm that has succeeded
in establishing reputation for honest,
square and considerate dealings with
the clients has in the good will' of
the customers an asset that amounts to
continued success. Beating the other
fellow once is equal to beating ones
self out of customer, and it may beat
one out of business career. The rel
ative size of the price changes with
changing conditions of supply and de-
mand, the volume of money in circula-
tion, the productive energy of the
worker, and the resources of nature.
But the fairness of price is governed
by the sense of justice, the good judg-
ment, and the broad sympathies found
in the hearts of those who are parties
to the deal. Business is an exchange
of needs. Where no unequal advantage
is taken of the other fellows needs,
''good will is established, and it is the
greatest asset in business.
***
England is keenly interested in the
Canadian tobacco production, accord
ing to MIR. F. Charlan, chief of the to-
bacco division. of the department of
agriculture But English man1factur-
ers demand that the tobacco be prop
erly graded and packed, and that the
moisture content be reduced to maxi
mum of IA per cent. The type of Can
adian leaf which has thus far met with
most favor in the cigar field is from
Quebec, shipped to England, stripped
and booked and properly dried. 1t is
pointed out, however, that there is no
room in England for cigar tobacco Of
nondescript type, such as the small
Canadian tobaccos. Practically all
brokers handling Canadian cigar leaf
complain that the supply is not nearly
equal to the demand. While the inter-
est in Canadian Burley by manufacture
ers in England may stimulate the cul-
ture of tobacco in Canada, in does not
mean that American leaf will cease to
be one of the main sources of supply
for number of years to come. A So. 90
import. tax prevailing now has not
stopped the English market from buy
ing In the U. S The temporary slow
up in American export has been due to
the exchange rate and to the trans
portation conditions, both Of which
have been unfavorable
*#*
Our trade with the South American
republics increased tremendously dur
ing the war. 1t was an opportunity
long looked for, and when once coming
our way, worth making the best of.
This seems, according to recent re-
ports, not to be our good fortune. Bus
mess representatives. of u. S. firms in
South America say that instead Of
gaining, on the basis of the good start
made during the war, our trade is fall
ing off. The reasons given for our
failure to remain in the good graces of
our South American customers are two
principal ones. The report says that
the Latin Americans fear North Amer
lea. They are afraid that if the q. S.
gets strong grip on the trade of the
country, it will NEEDLE in the political
affairs of the Latin republics. The
other reason advanced is that American
merchants make no effort to accommO-
date themselves to the South American
customer in matters of extension of
credits, and in meeting the tastes pecu-
liar to the people in these regions.
These real or imaginary grievances are
at the present time placing American
goods at disadvantage in the South
American markets, as compared with
European goods. The republics to the
south were glad to trade with us and
get the things they needed during the
period of the war when they could get
| them from nobody else, but as soon as
| the seas were open, they gave their
business to our European competitors.
Commercially, England, France and
Germany are as much at war with US
now as before the war on war; fought
in Europe, especially in our competi-
| tion for the South American market.
The American trader has here nut to
crack that will call upon all the tact,
resourcefulness and patience that he
| can muster. The North American feels
that by virtue of his geographical posi-
ton, and in view of the important serv-
| ices rendered the weaker republics dur
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