20 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



May 25, 1919 



together with names and addresses of producers and all the com- 

 mercial data required, samples of materials, both in the raw state 

 and in the shape of the manufactured product, giving preference 

 to such articles as are in special demand within the jurisdiction of 

 each consulate. 



Among the many advantages which these exhibitions wlil have 

 is that our goods will thus be made known to the commercial world 

 and will place the Mexican producer in direct contact with the for- 

 eign consumer. 



These exhibitions are maintained by the Mexican government 

 with the sole object of promoting friendly commercial relations 

 between the two countries, and no charge whatsoever is made for 

 this service. 



The Mexican Products Exhibition was recently established in 

 San Francisco by the Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Labor 

 of Mexico, whom I have the honor of representing as commercial 

 agent. It has a variety of exhibits, such as minerals, petroleum 

 oils, agricultural products, various fine woods and an assortment 

 of manufactured articles. Visitors are welcome and any available 

 information as to these products, their producers and how to effect 

 exchange of goods will gladly be given to interested parties. 



Regarding the actual situation in Mexico, I can do no less than 

 refute the recent newspaper articles which have been so unjust 

 and derogatory to my country. During my eight months' residence 

 in the beautiful city of the Golden Gate I have happily noticed 

 that broad-minded Americans have lo«t confidence in all these 

 prejudiced and selfish ingratos — enemies of Mexico — who think it 

 to their own personal advantage to periodically stir up "alarm- 

 ing situations in Mexico," which exist, fortunately, only in their 

 own fertile imaginations. 



Even among those who have personal interests in the southern 

 republic, many are beginning to follow "la via diplomatica," realiz- 

 ing that it will be to their ultimate interests to give the facts 

 about this much-maligned country. They have finally concluded 

 that only by an amicable and sincere establishment of friendly 

 commercial relations with the neighborhing republic can an imme- 

 diate future of mutual benefit and prosperity be assured. 



Establishing Good Government 



The entire Mexican administration, from the president, hia minis- 

 ters, every governor of each state, down to the humblest oflicial 

 throughout the republic, is doing everything possible to keep order 

 and give security alike to native and foreigner. In a word, Mexico 

 is today one of the strongest of all the Latin-American govern- 

 ments, not because of its great army or all the infernal material 

 formerly believed to be the only safeguards of peace, according 

 to the old-world standards, but because they have the confidence 

 of the people. Through their absolute patriotism, their disinter- 

 ested and indefatigable labors from the moment they assumed 

 office, they have given consideration to the working classes and 

 have elevated them from absolute slavery to freedom and possession 

 once more of their own lands. Instead of building palaces, they 

 now erect schools in all parts of the country, where compulsory 

 education is being enforced. In short, they are doing all in their 

 power to help the middle class, whose loyalty and affection are its 

 best proofs of the success of the administration. Led by their 

 democratic president, these high-minded officials are guiding this 

 land of inexhaustible wealth — still only in its infancy — along the 

 road of prosperity and contentment to its final merited place among 

 the great nations of the earth. 



Tuning Up 



It is a familiar sight to see musicians, especially those who use 

 stringed instruments, tuning up before they begin to take their 

 part of the program whatever it may be. 



They might argue after this fashion: "I am too busy to bother 

 tuning up. Besides, why should I? The strings are there and the 

 other parts of the instrument, and they should be reasonably ready 

 for use. The other fellow who hasn't much to do or who wants 

 to make something of a show, can tune up if he likes, but as for me, 

 I will cut it out! I have got along so far without doing much tuning 

 up, and I reckon I can go on the rest of the way as well as I have 

 come this! " 



Can you imagine a musician of that caliber, playing in a sym- 

 phony orchestra or before a discriminating audience? Not much! 

 Even a cheap restaurant would not tolerate him. Probably the best 

 he could expect would be, to be allowed to saw away on a street 

 corner. 



There are a lot of business men who are just as unwise about 

 themselves as this. They think they can go on day after day, week 

 after week, month after month, and year after year, without 

 "tuning up." After awhile, as might be expected, nerves begin 

 to jangle, the very closeness to their problems causes them to lose 

 their sense of perspective, and they either deteriorate into small, 

 grubby business men who merely hang on because of their dogged 

 persistence, or else they face a nervous or perchance a mental break- 

 down altogether. Either one is serious. Neither pays. 



It is just as important that the delicate human instrument with 

 its myriads of fine wires in the shape of nerves, its brain cells vrith 

 their peculiar functions, and its wonderful system so marvelously 

 interdependent, should be "tuned up." The musician can buy 

 another instrument; the business man cannot buy another body or 

 brain. He may be driven to the point of having the one he has 

 tinkered as nearly into shape as possible by the best doctor or sur- 

 geon he can find, but the beat remedy after all is prevention. 



Sometimes we wonder to see men who are at the head of large 

 corporations, the business of which runs annually into millions, 

 spending so much time, as it seems to us, in golf, motoring, camping, 

 fishing, or whatever particular type of recreation appeals to them, 

 and yet if you and I were to talk to these captains of industry 

 the chances are that they would tell us that there is no more impor- 

 tant part of their routine than "tuning up." It helps them to be 

 physically and mentally fit for the big tasks which they are obliged 

 to face continually. 



The man who keeps his nose continually on the grindstone will 

 soon siiffer from two physical defects. First, he will become so 

 cross-eyed that he cannot see plainly; and second, his nose will 

 wear off gradually so that after awhile he will not be able to see 

 at all. 



Sometimes perhaps we have read with wonder that our chief 

 national executive could close his desk upon stupendously moment- 

 ous matters of world-wide import and go sailing, motoring, or 

 golfing. The fact of the matter is that it had to be done. It was 

 as necessary for him to "tune up" as it was to eat, or sleep, and 

 failure to do any one of these three things would soon exact the 

 penalty of impaired judgment and working energy. 



We cannot continually draw upon our bank account without mak- 

 ing regular deposits, for soon we will come to the end and our bank 

 checks will be returned marked "No funds." This is always 

 humiliating, because it is a situation which impairs our credit and 

 injures our self-respect. After all, the Chinese people are wise 

 in their day and generation, in that they pay a physician as long as 

 they keep well, and promptly stop the regular remuneration they 

 otherwise pay him as soon as they fall ill. 



Any condition which departs from the strictly normal always 

 lowers one's efficiency and capacity for enjoyment, so there is no 

 advantage in encouraging such a condition. We admire the heroic 

 fortitude of the early martyrs, for the reason that they suffered for 



