The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-08-07
Wars Questionable Benefits

Opinions vary as to whether the war in Europe is of
any material benefit to the people of the United States,
notwithstanding the fact that there is now a large trade
balance in favor OF this country. The San francisco
Chronicle is one of the newspapers that does not believe
war is of permanent benefit to a neutral country. Among
other things the Chronicle says:
The total trade balance in favor OF this country tor
the last fiscal year has been ascertained to be SI,o04,422,
7o2, which, doubtless, greatly exceeds any previous trade
balance. Moreover, the balance of trade more nearly than
in any former year represents the balance OF payments,
which is a very different thing from the balance of trade.
we have a favorable balance of trade, or we should go
broke. When the time comes, as doubtless 1t Will come,
when our permanent foreign investments yield a large an
nual net income, if the balance of trade is not against us,
those who owe us will not be able to pay. Our unfavor-
able balance of payments has been reduced by the reten-
ton at home of most of the expenditures OF tourists and
by the interest due on American securities which we have
brought back. Our balance of trade has been increased
by a falling off of imports to the amount of nearly $780,
100000 during the first eleven months of the fiscal year.
We have doubtless paid more than the usual amount to
foreigners for ,freightS and marine insurance.
"The only comfort to be derived from our enormous
favorable trade balance is that to the extent that 1t con-
thousand people who would otherwise probably be out OF
work. Doubtless that is something. But that is partly
offset by the unemployment arising from the tact that we
are unable to get crude and partly manufactured products
essential to our industries which we do not produce, or
can get them only on contracts not to export the manu-
features produced from them. Dyestufs, potash and
rubber are familiar examples OF commodities winch we
need and cannot get.
But our greatest expansion is not in munitions OF
war, but in ~foodstuffs in which our increased exports for
eleven months was $4Io,285 ,187. And this was by no
means wholly in increased quantities, but was largely in
increased prices. Doubtless that helped the farmer who
had grain and meat for sale. But the war demand not
only increased the price at which we sold foodstuffs to
be1iigerents, but made an equally large increase in the
vastly greater quantities which we consume at home, and
which is felt in every household.
"The loss by the war to our cotton growers is motor
.ious. That may in the end be found a blessing in disguise
it causes the southern people to diversity their products
They are to some extent doing so this year. Possibly
the greatest loss of all may come by a sudden end to the
war and the cancellation of untitled contracts by payment
of the expected profits, leaving the vast number OF EN-.
ployes afloat to live as best they can during the period OF
REIMBURSEMENT.
There is no money to be made from war by any nation,
however neutral. Certainly not by us. The war has de-
ranged our commerce, spoiled our permanent markets,
impoverished our debtors, imperiled more enterprises than
it has helped, and turned the thought and effort of Our
people and of mankind from construction and progress to
destruction and recession.
"Was is hell, and it has no redeeming feature"