Valdez daily prospector., 1915-04-13
TUESDAY, APRIL IS, 1915.
REQUESTING THE MlNIMUMS.

The abolishing of the Stock Ex change minimum prices under the conditions of worldwide financial dis turbance is declaration of financial independence of unmistakable inn portance We declare our readiness to take the worlds sales of any thing, stocks or goods, and to pay gold at time when the world is sacrificing all it possesses for gold. There is nothing we need less, and nothing other nations need so much, not even munitions, for gold and munitions are interchangeable. In fact our stock of gold is so great that it is threatening. The danger is that if it is not released for legi- innate trade uses it will be absorbed in speculative eXcesses. Gold is too cheap for wholesome conditions here, and it is too dear for wholesome con- ditions abroad. Germany boasts of it's finances in vain when it's exchange is at such discount. In less de- gree that is true of London, where the bank rate has ceased to cor rect the exchanges.
 The abolition of the minimums will be most generally considered in con- nection with the Stock Exchange. Its effect will be greatest off the Stock of trade are more important than even the rising prices on the Exchange, and acquire significance in connection with the abolition of the minimums. A gain of ten million dollars in i'm ports in single week, at a time when reduction of imports has been the economic marvel, shows where the foreign sellers are making their sacrifices. It has been recognized that we should be making good trade by exchanging dear goods for cheap American stocks. It is a bet ter bargain to exchange dear goods for cheap goods, and let the securi- ties reflect the betterment of trade. It is only by buying foreign goods of sure worth that we can hope to continue to trade largely with abroad" We can afford to take short-term foreign paper in exchange for goods, but we cannot afford to turn our gold into foreign national loans, nor even into American se- curities. By buying goods we can sell goods without limit. By disbursing our gold for investments, either American or foreign, we soon would come to the end of what now seems inexhaustible.
 Taken together, the abolishing of the minimums and the increase of imports are the best signs we have had for many months, not in a spec ulative or Stock Exchange sense, but in the hope of buying what we need cheap, and selling others what they need so much that we can set the prices. True prosperity lies rather in good commodity markets than in good security markets. They may be good when trade is bad, but when trade is good the security markets may be left to themselves. Foreign buyers will be more interested in our staple markets than in our stock markets. They will but what they must at sellers prices and we can choose what we will take at buyers prices. They can be trusted in self-interest not to sacrifice anything they must sell be- yond their necessities, and we have it in our power to decide whether they must sacrifice our securities or their goods. The growing imports signify that they prefer to sacrifice their goods. It will be relief to both markets, and will tend to relax the deadlock throughout the world. New York Times.