The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-11-25
|OUR NATIONS
FINANCIAL PLACE

treasury, in long article in the New
York Times. declares that the Uni
ted States leads in financial power,
and that to say our prosperity rests
on war orders is indefensible.
IL he means to say that just now
the United States has more money
than any other power, that is doubt
less correct.
But IL he means to say that the
vast sums did not come from war
orders, or that, without any war in
Europe we should now have the tre-
mendous surplus. any boy of sixteen
can see that he is talking through
his hat.
And when he says that the United
States leads in financial power, does
he mean that this lead is permanent
or due entirely to the present war
and will swiftly pass when peace is
restored. or that we shall continue
to hold that position?
Let us consider for moment the
real situation. When the war broke
out both Great Britain and Germany
were installed strongly in countries
all around the world. They had lines
of fast steamers running to all i'm
portant ports. They had mercantile
houses established in all important
ports; they had banks in very many
foreign ports, and their citizens were
interested in railroads, lands, mines.
cities and multifold other forms of
properties in all countries of prom
Use.
Now what will prevent their re-
suming all the business that the war
stopped. in all those countries when
peace is restored
And how has the Unied States
been preparing to compete with
those countries in foreign lands
when the war stops?
Has she or have her citizens estab-
lished any banks or trading stations
in any of them? Have the eyes of
the people of those countries become
accustomed to the sight of the Ameri-
can flag on American ships in their
ports! What have we done to win
either the respect, confidence or af-
lection of the people of those lands?
How m In,
who live back one hundred miles
from the coast, know that there is
such country as the United States, or
aught of the wealth and power of
the Great Republic?
A boor may find treasure-trove,
but If he keeps it locked up what
does it avail him, or how does it in
crease the respect for or trust in
him?
Mr.. McAdoo is a sanguine gentle
men. but he has long been in the
public eye and up to date has never
established reputation for superior
genius or profound craftsmanship.
Had our government, when the
war burst upon Europe, responded,
built some steam lines, told our
great merchants and manufactures
to go to certain countries and estab-
fish trading posts. and look out for
opportunities for Investment, and
that ships would call at the ports
they settled in at regular brief inter
walls. the result today would have
been different And it did not re-
quire much foresight TODD this. 1t
would have been but initiating what
England had been doing for seventy
years and what Germany had been
; doing for thirty years. and from
which they both grew fabulously
rich. Had it been done-and the OPP
portunity was in plain slightly this
time Mr.. McAdoo's claim would have
had little foundotion.
There would have been more to 1t.
BY this time 1t quite possible that
| Americans in those countries would
have possessed lands toward which
the hordes which will begin to stream
in from Europe when the war closes
might at least in part have been
turned, and thus have relieved a
little the pressure which will be up
on our country when those poor
creatures will come to us and enter
into direct competition with our or
ganized labor.
Some practical work will have to
be done then; no chasing of rain
bows will be OF any avail.-Good.
wins Weekly.