The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-05-19
Business and Finances

With the enormous growth and ex-
pansion of American business during
the past two years, the question has
naturally arisen: to what extent has
this increase in business been assimi-
lated by the American nation so that
1t may become permanent feature,
and lead to a continually broadening
business policy? Furthermore. this ex
pansion has brought with it new
problems, among the more important
of which is the labor problem. Con-
trary to general belief the problem of
had been commonly predicted; and
finance her own enterprises, but she
has in addition taken back from Eu-
rope nearly $2,OOO,OOO,OOO of her own
securities and loaned another ST. 000,-
100000 to the Allied nations. A brief
summary of business and financial
conditions during the two-year period
alluded to above will bring out the
following facts:
Prior to the outbreak of the war in
Juy, 1914, business conditions in this
country were far from satisfactory,
and in some quarters serious indus
When the war was declared business
and industry, in sympathy with the up
heaval in the financial and speculative
markets, suffered chaotic collapse,
and one which has been pronounced
the most severe that this country has
ever known. Happily, the new bank
ing system was before the end of the
year working smoothly and effectively,
and proved to be an effective weapon
against monetary panic.
The next step in the evolution was
the deluge of war orders" from the
fighting nations, first in the form OF
foodstuffs and clothing, then for the
more practical and necessary imple-
ments of warfare, such as guns, pro-
jectles and shells. The fabulous
prices offered for the quick delivery Of
these articles proved an incentive fol
the hurriedly putting together of tenn
porary plants for their manufacture
and logically to an enormous public
demand for the securities of the com
panies engaged in their manufacture
AS the ability of the fighting nations
to manufacture their own munitior
goods became more firmly established
the trade in these war materials be
came decreasing factor, and econo
mists now tell us that the actual wa
supply export trade has by this TIM
become negligible.
While this evolution has been il
progress, however, the expansion o
domestic business has more than flle'
the gap left by the falling off in tn
war trade, and this is the stage il
which we now find ourselves.
The problems that concern us ar
these: Will the cessation of hostilitie
in Europe cause another upheaval Q
the financial and commercial market
similar to that by which the war wa
ushered in? In other words, will tn
"shock of peace" be as serious as tn
shock of war? Can domestic, indus
trial and labor conditions be depende
upon to clinch the opportunities 70
permanent prosperity or will the ur
rest of the laboring classes retard tn
progress of the prosperity wagon
Finally, will the great efforts alread
put forth by Governmental and pr
vate agencies for the legitimate e,
ploitation of the South American ma
kets result in a permanent and proh
able commercial intercourse betwee
the two American Continents, or Wi
European competition be sufficient
effective to wrest this prize from o,
grasp?
Prominent bankers, manufacture
and economists are predicting that "
are about to enter upon an epoch
prosperity that will be unprecedente
in the annals of American histor.
that the problems outlined in the pr
ceding paragraph will admit of ea'
solution, and that the financial prestit
of the United States, not only in Il
capacity of creditor among the n
tons, but also in the actual hnancir