The Washington herald., 1920-04-25

world markets; and It was sue
cessfui up to the push-button point.
A small shop in Santiago. Chile.
with circus display OF articulated
a..imals and clowns made In ELL
adelfia" had so great a crowd Of
children and grown-ups around II
all day that the shopkeeper was
compelled to place a guard over
his plate glass. Down the street
there were German, Japanese and
British toys, but none with an au-
dience like that. Latin America is
a fine toy market. because It has
two Christmas days. The second
comes on January 6. the DAY OF
the Kings" when the Wise Men vis-
tied the Infant Savior, bringing
their gifts. Latin American young
sters hang up their stockings again
the evening OF January s, and the
Wise Men I'LL them. Lima is called
THE City Of the Kings" because IL
was founded around that anniver-
sary.
Don't Want Our Toys.
But despite the, success Of our
toys on their ingenuity and educa-
tionai merits. Latin-American mer-
chants declare that they will, not
buy them another year. The Ger
mans are back with toy soldiers
cunninEly adapted to each coun-
itry-some of them sold last winter
were American soldiers killing Ger
mans. The japanese have their
own stores in the southern coun-
q tries, selling limitations of German
toys-ttn horns that will not blow,
rubber balls that do not bounce,
squeaking animals that won't
squawk. But shopkeepers prefer
the German and japanese toys, and
the British wooden blocks and doll
houses. because American mechani-
cal toys, though more attractive,
nave mostly arrived broken as a
consequence OF bad packing,
There are many American con-
Germs who land their products in
tact in other countries. The Lima
theater owners experience has been
that the bigger the concern the
more satisfactory its shipments,
when he dealt with trust" like
our largest plumbing supply cor
poration there was little breakaee
or none at all. But untold damage
| mas been done to our business pres
1ge by mushroom exporting con-
Germs in the United States, and
mushroom export departments set
up In the war rusn by manufactur-
ers and wholesalers. Such stories
as have been told in this article are
being circulated by our business
rivals in other countries. One type
OF Yankee resents them as "propa-
, Sanda. but fortunately there is an
other type who sees that the place
TO deal with them is at home by
wedding out the incompetents and
the crooks. for the protection Of our
customers abroad. as well as our
selves.
One plan has been suggested bv
Carlton Jackson. our energetic trade
| commissioner at Lima. That is 10
create either a black list" of the
tricky. careless and irresponsible
concerns. or a white list" of those
who fill export orders faithfully,
skillfully and promptly. Perhaps IL
might be compiled by our govern
ment. in which case 1t would hav..
official status and teeth" The Ger
mans long ago learned that such
; supervision was necessary, the Brit :
ish have virtually an official super
| vision through their board of trade,
and the Japanese are coming to 1t.
II government list is not feasible,
then action might be undertaken by
some such organization as the
, Chamber of Commerce of the United
States.
1t is a poor industry that cannot
clean up it's own crooks. The time
has come when information about
the trustworthiness of American
concerns Is more necessary than
credit reports on the other fellow
who wants to buy our stun. II we
t are to be made safe for the world
to trade with. we must disconnect
+ the push button.
! Copyright. 1000. by Public Ledger Coz