Junk 1, 1915.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



477 



bilit) that the innocent-appearing advertisement might 

 conceal a cipher message. 



Everyone concedes the marvelous attention t<' detail 

 that has characterized German militarj operations, I nit the 

 cutting off of communications in public prints between the 

 rubber trade of America and other neutrals on one hand 

 and the trade of < Jerman) i m the other appears like carry 

 ing precaution to rather fantastic lengths. However, the 

 practical effect i- not important, for under present condi- 

 tions, ami with the long contraband list, American ex- 

 porters might be extremel) eager to -ell and German im- 

 porters importunate to buy and still the resulting inter- 

 change prove quite insignificant. 



THE PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE. 



IT is something like a quarter of a centurj since Secre- 

 tary of State Blaine, with that world-wide view 

 which distinguishes the genuine statesman, conjured up 

 the vision of Pan-American union. Since that time there 

 have been many conferences of representatives of the 

 United States and from the republics of the southern con- 

 tinent. These conferences have undoubtedly been of 

 great benefit, as they have served to increase mutual 

 understanding and good will. And they have undoubtedly 

 assisted to some extent in encouraging the growth of 

 commercial relations between North America and South 

 America. But after all, trade is not a question of amity — 

 it is a question of advantage. People will buy where 

 they expect to get the most for their money. And, as 

 stated often in these columns, the reason that Germany 

 and England have secured so preponderating a propor- 

 tion of the South American trade is to be found in the 

 fact that they were willing to do more to get this trade 

 than we were — because they sought this market with an 

 energy that North Americans were not willing to emulate. 

 But there is no doubt that the hideous discord now 

 s-haking the foundations of Europe has tended to draw 

 all Americans of both continents nearer together and to 

 impress them as never before with the inestimable ad- 

 vantage of international harmony, fraternitx and esteem. 

 The doors to the South American market are certainly 

 wiiler open under present conditions than they have ever 

 been before, and it will be easier for the manufacturers 

 of the United States to find South American purchasers 

 for their products than it has been hitherto. But if this 

 market is to be held permanently it must be held by send- 

 ing -oods especially adapted to South American need-. 

 by offering easy terms and long credits and by financial 

 assistance in the development of South American re- 

 sources — in other words, by following the course that 

 gave the Europeans entrance into that market and which 

 has enabled them to hold it for so mail) years. 



The establishment of United States banks at various 

 points in Brazil, Argentina and other countries must 

 prove of substantial assistance; and undoubtedly il the 

 merchant marine that plies between the ports of North 



and South America sailed under the American lias; that 

 ton would be helpful, but the goods themselves and the 

 terms on which they are offered are, after all. the vital 

 features. Former Pan-American conferences have been 

 interesting and of considerable sentimental value but -till 

 largelj academic. This latest conference ought certainl) 

 to be followed by practical and tangible results. 



THE HEAVY BURDEN OF WAR. 



Till-', general tenor of the messages that come from 

 Germany is to the effect that industries there are 

 being conducted very much as usual, and that the man 

 on the street hardly knows that there is any war in 

 progress, but the glimpses that one may obtain from 

 time to time of the internal situation in that empire in- 

 dicate that while industrial activity is still maintained 

 it is maintained under conditions that are far from 

 normal. Elsewhere in this number there appear- the last 

 annual report, covering the year 1914, of the Continental 

 Caoutchouc & Gutta Percha Co.. of Hanover, which is 

 exceptionally interesting because of the unusual items 

 that appear in the expense account. For instance, dur- 

 ing the last five months of the year the company ex- 

 pended nearly half a million marks for the maintenance 

 of the families of employes who had joined the army. 

 ( )ther items of expense include payments for cigars and 

 other comforts for troops passing through that section, 

 contributions to German prisoners of war in foreign coun- 

 tries, presents sent to troops in the held, maintenance of 

 hospitals and subscriptions to the Red Cross fund. At 

 the same meeting at which this report was reail an ap- 

 propriation of half a million mark- was voted for the 

 support of the families of workmen who had fallen in 

 battle; the amount already paid because of the exigen- 

 cies of the war. together with the additional sum voted, 

 being in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. All 

 of which shows that while the commercial activities of 

 the empire may be carried on with their accustomed 

 vigor, they are obliged to carry a most unusual burden. 

 On reading this rubber company's report one is im- 

 pressed first with the generosity and patriotism of the 

 German industrial corporations: but one's second and 

 most lasting impression is of the great burden that this 

 deplorable war is laying up' n the commercial life of all 

 the active belligerents. 



The La- i oi im-. Amerk \\ Honorary Members 

 of the Rubber Club of America passed away in May. 

 John P. Rider and John D. \ ermeule, both veteran- in 

 the rubber business, both successful, both dating back to 

 the days of ( harles Goodyear and the beginnings of the 

 trade, have gone to the Great Beyond. With A. 1). 

 Schlesinger and Jacques lluber they were men who did 

 much for the trade, added to its knowledge, and by their 

 enterprise, probity and breadth of view proved them- 

 selves worthy members of the great industry to which 

 the\ devoted their lives. 



