Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1914 — WEAKNESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEAKNESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA

John T. Lenfestey Tells of American Commerce on the Southern Continent—European Nations, Germany, England and France, Now Get Lion’s Share of the BusinessThree Causes for This Are Named.

Chicago.—John T. Lenfestey has returned to Chicago from his tour of the principal states of South America, with numberless vivid stories of his experiences, as shown by his comments made to the London correspondent of The Daily News and reiterated here. He was deeply impressed by the mental alertness and the proud spirit of the peoples among whom he traveled. "It is high time,’* said Mr. Lenfestey, “that we people in the north disabused our minds of the foolish notion that we can treat South Americans with indifferent courtesy and have their friendship. They are wonderfully responsive to respectful and cordial treatment. I hope the American people will grasp thia fact quickly, and I hope that in future no citizen of the United States, distinguished or undistinguished, will come to Central or South America and behave otherwise than he would behave if he were traveling among the most civilized and powerful people of the world.

“Enough on that point England has the same spirit in commerce that ‘No Flint’ Gen. Grey displayed in the conquest of the West Indies for England. British capitalists have scouts all over South America placing money with South American republics, and English contractors are on the ground to bring it back home for railroads, docks, harbors, battleships, explosives, guns and factories of all kinds. The Belgians, French and Germans are not far behind, ‘gumshoeing* around for governments, corporations and individuals who need money and have security to offer for its remove resistance and make it easy for the manufacturers of their nations to»sell' the products they desire to move. *• “Many Americans, looking around for openings without money, return home disappointed. North American salesmen in South America who speak Spanish are well satisfied with the success they are enjoying, and North American goods are given the preference more than ever before. There are three elements of weakness in the development of North American commerce. First, the absence of banking facilities under North American influence; second, ignorance of the geo-

graphy of South America, and third, failure to properly fill orders and pack goods safely so as to insure them against the rough handling they receive in cargo steamers. “There are abundant facilities for carrying freight safely, reasonably and promptly, if the same care and wisdom are used in addressing and packing shipments for South America as for domestic trade in the United States. “The commercial Instinct for merchandising is not very highly developed in South America, but the people there have much the same nature as elsewhere, and are reached in much the same manner, except that they are more sentimental and like to be made love to. The love making they appreciate most is a display of confidence in them manifested by loaning them money for the purpose of building up and developing the republic they live under and love. “South Americans recognize that public and private debts figure conspicuously in the older and more successful countries, and they see no reason why the per capita publie debt of their nation and the cities they live in should not equal that of England, Germany or the United States. Judging by extracts taken from our (North American papers, there are not so many famous grafters and less newspaper publicity is given to grafting in South America than is the case with us. * - ’ ( . “Spain and Portugal have sacked and sapped the South American republics for hundreds of years. Last year 147,000 emigrants from Spain moved into Argentina to till the soil thus atoning in part for the injury wrought by their ancestors to the. South America countries. These poor People from Spain are mor 3 needed in

Argentina than the rich; they have succeeded in making ten heads of wheat grow where one grew before, and by their labor have been able to utilize the land, hitherto nonproductive, controlled by the members of the Buenos Ayres Jockey club. “Brazil is dominated commercially, to a great extent, by Germans, who sit steady tri the boat and daily enlarge their sphere of influence. They are ever ready on the ground with technical knowledge to produce whatever is wanted, as and when wanted,

packed to arrive in the units wanted, with customs duty paid and bill rendered for delivery where and when wanted. This' is one of the secrets of their success in Brazil, as they stand alone among nations tor giving such complete service. "South American republics are in much the same position as many unfortunate manufacturers' in North America who are short of capital, owing to the inability of their bankers to see visions. It is said that in North America there are only twp bankers who are big enough to recognize good visions and capitalize them. “A foreign consul remarked to me that Europe was supplying the money and North America was selling the goods. By that he meant to say that American influence and commerce were growing rapidly in South America.

-‘-‘I had a great time wherever I went. I found the people, native and foreign, sympathetic and generous of time, effort and money. I must tell you about a thrilling ride I had in Peru. By the way, I found the railways of the west coast, though owned by the English, operated by Americans from the top to bottom. It seems to be clearly recognized that the operating genius of American railway men, is unrivaled. At Lima, Peru, expressing to J. H. Feehan, manager of the Central railroad of Peru, desire to go up the mountain, my request was immediately granted. For seven hours we ascended the grade—a four per cent one —finally arriving at our destination, Rio Blancho, 12,300 feet up. The rain clouds were driving about us and the blue sky gleamed beautifully through them. The view was vast and superb. I was ‘tobogganed’ back to Lima, 75 miles. That is to say, a man named .Kelley took me on a handcar and ran down the line right into the city by gravity. We made the return trip in two and a half hours. It was rather late when we started back and for half an hour at the end of the journey we ran in

the dark. It was my most thrilling experience in South America. "I do not feel that one *can too strongly underline the fact that for most part the American diplomatic and consular representatives now in South Ameriba are rendering service of the highest possible value to the United States. Undoubtedly the foremost man among these able public servants is Ambassador E. V. Morgan at Rio de Janeiro. He is an ideal ambassador. His tact, sympathy and intimate knowledge of all classes and conditions of society mark him Off as a diplomatist of extraordinary ability. So popular is he both with the public and Brazilian government that when It came to be understood that he was at the point of retiring from the service, the Brazilian government specially requested the Washington government not td permit him to retire. I say this about Mr. Morgan and his confreres of both services because I realize how important it is that the United States should have in South America men thoroughly initiated into the life of those countries. To change a man like Mr. Morgan at Rio de Janeiro, or our ambassadors at Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, Santiago or Valparaiso would be a calamity. They all have won a position that only tact and time give one and they have spent a great deal of money over and above the pittance allowed by our government.”

The Capitol of Buenos Ayres.

Street of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.