Evening star., 1928-12-20
WIDENING INFLUENCE OF U.S..
DISCOVERED IN LATIN AMERICA
Newspaper Man, for Instance, Buys Nice,
Large Native Pearls Which Were
Made In u. S. A."

and he proved himself to be a good
/ mixer. (ASk the newspaper men with
the Hoover party whom he entertained
| in cafe on the pier prior to the arrival
of Mr.. Hoover'S launch). DR.. ColindreS
| spoke very little English, but as an in
| terpreter he had young Honduran en-
gineer who had been graduated from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and who now IS engaged in installing
modern water system in the Hon
| duran capital.
In the cafe on the pier were signs
| advertising familiar manufactured
goods of the United States, from chew
,, ing gum to baked beans, and an Ameri-
can phonograph ground out popular
| jazz hits direct from Broadway Hon.
| duran bellies Strolled the pier in or
| candle dresses that came to their knees,
| and picture hats that shaded their bru-
| nette faces from the tropical glare OF
course, there were also the native moth
ers in their quaint calicoes, the less
| progressive men in their dirty shirts
and trousers and bare feet, and the
brown babies. without a stitch of clothes
on their roly-poly bodies On the whole,
however, there was a distinctly pro-
gressive trend noticeable on all sides.
Looking to Uncle Sam.
All of Central America looks to Uncle
Sam for advice in trade and govern
ment, and for protection from in
| justices. Outstanding examples of this
feeling of confidence in the United
States were met with during the visits
to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica has progressive, stable
| government. It's army of school teachers
is far larger than its army of soldiers.
| Three-fourths of its army of 500 men
is in the military band-trained more
| for making music than making war.
Costa Rica is proud of its ability to
| rely on the fair play of its neighbors
rather than on the strength of its army.
The leaders of the nation are friendly
| to the United States, and confident
that Uncle Sam will see that the coun-
/ try gets justice in all international re-
| latiOnS.
But suppose you should really have
| war Sometime-what would you do
without an Army?" President-elect
Hoover asked Costa Rican official.
I'VE would send our army of school
| teachers out to scold the enemy, l
guess" was the laughing reply. But
we are not going to have war"
1t appears that the reports of anti
| American sentiment in Central Ameri-
ca have been greatly exaggerated. 1t
is true there is an organized movement
| to arouse antagoniSm against the
United States. instigated apparently by
Communists elements, but the agitation
is no more effective than similar COM
munistic propaganda being carried on
| in the States.
The recent appeal by Costa Rica to
the League of Nations to interpret the
Monroe Doctrine. members of the party
| were told in San Jose, was the act OF
a minor official and was much regret
ted by those higher in authority. Gov
ernment leaders are favorable to the
building by the United States of the
proposed Nicaraguan Canal for they
foresee vast trade benefits growing out
of it.
Concur on Intervention.
One of the most surprising develop
mentS of the mission was the concur
renee by both Liberal and Conservative
parties in Nicaragua on the question OF
intervention by United States Marines
In the nations election difficulties. The
Liberals formerly joined in requesting
that the marines remain in Nicaragua
until the next national election, 1our
years hence. The two parties appear
to have no definite division of political
issues. Their antagonismS SAVIOR more
of the old Kentucky mountain feudS
than of political differences. In Mica
ragua men are born Liberals or Con-
servatives and they remain such not
because of platforms or persuasion. but
because of family honor. 1t may take
several generations to wipe out theSe
grudgeS. A great forward step has been
the agreement by both sides that Uncle
Sam should be the referee.
AS for Sandino, he Is generally re-
garded in the light Of an outlaw, de-
spite attempts of his followers to pic
ture him as martyr.
Nowhere in Latin America Is the sta
bilizing hand of the United States more
apparent than in Ecuador-land OF
Panama" hats, bananas and coffee
The fiscal policies of the government
have been reorganiZed by a group of
American financial experts, holding high
offices in the administration, while the
whole fabric of government has been
patterned after drastic recommended
tionS made by Prof. Kammerer of
Princeton University, brought to Ecua-
dor by that government to make
study of needed reforms.
Under this Americanizing influence
Ecuador has had financial rehabili-
tation. The country went back on the
gold standard and the economic situa-
ton is steadily improving. Posts
filled by American citizens at this time
include those of director general of
customs. financial adviser to national
banks. superintendent general of banks
and controller general of the treasury
Becoming Americanized.
The people of Latin America, them
selves, are getting thoroughly Ameri-
caniZed according to United States
standards. American automobile manu-
facturers have found down here fruit
full field1 for export business. In. Costa