The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-04
NO FEAR OF HARD
TIMES HERE BECAUSE
Of EUROPEAN TROUBLE

There is no occasion for any alarm
because of the disturbances in Eu-
rope, so far as this country is con-
lcerned. 1t is natural that the gil
gantic character of these disturb
ances should cause a feeling of I'M
rest and uneasiness, but an analysis
|of the situation, backed by the opin-
ion of the highest authorities on
business and finance in the country,
discloses only the most reassuring
features. With the tremendous
crops that are the fruit Of this sea-
sons harvest, sufficient almost to
feed the world, and with the demand
for our products that must newt
ably result from the European trou-
lbles, there is every reason to have
full confidence that the United States
will ultimately be materially bene-
fitted by the situation.
In some sections there may be
some depression of business locally,
but only those places will be thus
affected which depend upon direct
relations with foreign trade. In
Florida there are some localities
dependent wholly or largely upon
phosphate exports, and these places,
perhaps, will suffer temporary incon-
yenience. That any such business
depression will be only temporary
there are good reasons for believing.
In the first place, the very magnitude
of the threatened European conflict,
will make it of necessity short-lived.
AS for our phosphate, it is not like
an orange or vegetable crop which
must be marketed when maturity Is
reached. 1t remains in the bosom
of our State, a permanent asset, and
any temporary suspension in its pro-
duction and shipment will be more
than made up by an increased and
more profitable market at no distant
date.
Meanwhile, the news dispatches
bring the information that action,
prompt and decisive, is being taken
by the government to provide ample
financial means to avert any threat
ened crisis, and to keep the wheels
of industry and commerce moving
steadily and smoothly. More than a
billion dollars in currency will be
added to the country's circulating
and hundreds of millions
are ready to be placed at the dis
posal of the banks to move crops
and keep business in an active and
healthy state. Under our new cur
rency and banking laws the financial
of the country are i'm
strengthened and can
not be thrown on the rocks of fail
IRE by sporadic disturbances, as has
,ffnn hann ha ~
while the federal reserve system is
l further bulwark and protection to
)ur banks in such emergencies as
he present.
Viewing the situation from
purely local standpoint, there is alb
no reason why any citizen
If Lakeland should have the slight
st uneasiness over the outcome.
lakeland will not be affected, other
han in the most indirect way, by
my phase of the disturbances
broad. Floridas eight-million box
.itrus crop will soon be ready for
hipment, and fair proportion of
he dollars for which this crop will |
,e exchanged will come back to
lakeland growers. Our other pris-
ipal industries, trucking, berry
cattle raising, ETC., if af-
ected at all, will be only by raise
n the prices of these products. Our
,anks are as safe and solid as the
ock of Gibraltar, and have ample |
esources to weather any financial !