Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09
CONTINUED from First Page)

way. His ship was steaming quietly
along the coast Of Peru when it struck
submerged and jagged reef A yaWn-
ing hole was torn in the vessel and 1t
proceeded to founder. Klein and the
others were plunged into the water with
the WreCkage. They floated till they
had the good fortune TO be picked up
by South American tramp steamer
which was carrying-of all things-a
tawdry little circus and menagerie.
Animals and acrobatS mingled, now,
with able Seamen and attaches in dis
tress. NANCY lions and tigers were
among the new shipmates OF the Amer
lean commercial Scout"-for this was
the kind of "dinky" little circus that
couldn't afford first-rate specimens.
Klein slept on the deck beside a pack
ing case housing king of beasts "
who sported OH his head q bump about
the size of q coconut. At the Depart
ment of Commerce in Washington Klein
had always interested himself in prob
lens of stout. dependable packing cases.
He had special reasons for such interest
now. Packing case do your duty"
was his bedtime prayer.
Finally he got to Chile and started
Gas he thought to cross the mountains
on his way to Buenos Aires. But 1t
was Winter then and he ran into one
of the worst billiards In the history
of these lofty passes. The train could
not go on. Klein was compelled to
contain himself as patiently as passible
for many weary weeks i'll the foothills
of the giant range until the Andes even
tually concluded to "unfreeze them
selves"
While Klein was assistant professor
OF Latin American history and eco
Monies ut Harvard, he made 4 unique
study OF the history and importance of
the "Mesta"-the sheep raisers' guild or
wool trust Of Spain. This organization
played an important part In Spanish
history. 1t was used by each OF the
stronger SOvereignS in turn to carry on
8 prolonged struggle against the ancient
traditions Of Spanish separatism and
to work toward united peninsula. Its
rise Synchronized with the successful
efforts OF the warrior monarchs of the
ReconqueSt to WELD their newly won
dominions into a nation.
Its decline began with the collapse OF
the monarchy and the triumphs of sep
aratist influences under the seventeenth
century .Hapsburgs. For us Americans,
the main point of interest In connection
with this wool guild is the fact that
funds derived from 1t had large part
IN making possible the discovery and
conquest of America by Columbus, Cor
ties, De Soto and their gallant cotem-
poraries. The old tale of Isabella's
pawning her jewels belongs. Dr. Klein
says, in the domain of myth. All the
phases Of the Mesta's history. Klein
traced in detail in the 400 pages of q
published work.
Believes In Destiny Of u. s.
Julius Klein, 1t goes without saying, is
profound believer In the commercial
destiny OF the United States. Vast as is
our predominance as q trading Nation
he does not think we have even approx
mated the zenith Of our possibilities in
the marts Of the world He conSid-
ers there Is no richer field Of opportu-
nifty awaiting the young men of Amer
lea than the exploitation of our trade
openings abroad. Perhaps If he were
to take the witness stand and confess
where he thinks our most brilliant fu-
ture lies he would point TO Latin Amer
lea.
DR.. Klein is himself the United States
foremost authority on Latin American
trade. In 1912, 1918 and 1914 he was
conducting investigations in Latin
American and Spanish history and eco
nomicS, visiting all the principal ar
chives of Central and South America
and Spain for the purpose. During
the World War he was chief of the
Latin American division of the Depart
ment OF Commerce, and in 1919 and
1920 was United States commercial at
tache at Buenos Ayres.
1t Is because of this long. intimate
| and first-hand experience with the af-
fairs Of the sister Americas that DR..
Klein looks hopefully in their direc-
ton with respect to widening opportu-
mites for American business. The next
few years are destined to witness a first
class American European scramble for
Latin American markets. It accords
with the fitness Of things, as we'll as
with this country's competitive neces-
stiles, that man of Julius Klein's
| highly specialized equipment should be
on the Assistant Secretary's job In the
department.
| Part of julius Klein's time during the
last eight years-a very extensive part
has been devoted to selling" the idea
| OF foreign trade to the American BUSH
ness world. In the past there has been
tendency upon the part of our mer-
chants. manufacturers and exporters
generally, including even our farmers,
to look upon foreign business as a sec
ond-rate or third-rate proposition,
worthy only of passing consideration.
Month in and month out Julius Klein
has preached the folly of so casual a
concept OF overseas commerce.
Foreign Trade Established.
| Here is the gospel he has spread
| Foreign trade Is business stabilizer
and stimulus. 1t Is well tried expedi-
ent for taking up the slack Of seasonal
or other depression-a means of creating
employment for Workmen---a rich fielC
for the profitable application of oui
energy, our resources, our commercial
skill and acumen. 1t means vast addec
sums for American pay envelopes anc
savings accounts. To large group oil
far-sighted manufacturers export selling
means precisely the difference between
porfit and loss on their activities as 6
whole. 1t insures the full-time opera.
ton of plants. with consequent stability
Of wages, prices, transportation anC
other vital economic elements. Expor
Is, therefore, and will be more and more
a factor in modifying any dangerou.
dips in our industrial curve To chang,
the figures, it is being appreciated in.
creasinely. not as q panacea, but rather
as a mild, sustaining stimulant to oui
industrial organism"
Or. Klein Is not q swivel-chair Gov.
eminent of1cial. He decided that tn