The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-11-17
WHEN THE WAR CLOSES

During The campaign just closed,
in their efforts to pick up an issue,
our Republican friends contended that
the country's prosperity, which was
too evident to be decried, was all due
to the European war; even their can
didate for President endeavored to
surmount this fact by saying it was
"only a FOOLS paradise"-that at the
close of the war the bottom would
drop out of it and the country would
experience calamitous business
slump.
Of course it was all campaign talk,
as anything, however absurd, goes in
a political campaign. But we do not
believe, and we do not believe that
the speakers and writer's of the Re-
publican party believe, that there
was or is any reasonable appre-
hension that peace in Europe would
affect the prosperity in this country in
any dire way. 1t rests upon too sure
a foundation-the confidence Of eX-
perienced business men, the resource
fitness of American business enter
prise, and the finest opportunities pos
sessed by any nation on earth. To ar
que otherwise would be to doubt the
energy, courage, constructiveness and
ability to hold our own with any ma
ton however favorably situated.
That the European war has contrib
uted largely to American prosperity
is recognized by all. We have been
supplying the belligerent nations
with munitions of war to such an ex-
tent that the operators of our NUM-
tons factories have enlarged their
plants and increased their working
force to supply the demand, and have
been making big profits. Also, because
every available able-bodied man in
these warning nations has been drawn
into their armies and their ability tc
grow and produce food-stuffs has
been woefully weakened. The United
States, always a large suppier Of
food products to these nations, has
been called upon to make up their en-
forced shortage. This increased de.
mand has raised the price of every
thing to eat, thus favoring the grair
growers, live stock breeders and ev
erybody engaged directly or indirect
" in any kind of food production. The
same demand has added to the higi
cost of living with us, but this il
largely offset by the plentifulness o.
money and better wages.
The demands thus made upon Vi
by Europe, and which we have me
with all the energy and resources a
our command, has caused the gold o.
the warning nations to flow into oul
laps. Our credits abroad, that were
thrown back upon us to help pay TO
what they bought, instead of produc
ing a panic and slump in the stool
markets, thanks to the stable and con
structive financial system of the, Fed
eral Reserve Act, have been readil.
handled and absorbed, and from
debtor we haev been transformed in
to a creditor nation. This has place.
the prosperity of our country upon
sound, substantial basis which, thoug
business might slow down some, coul
not be shaken by any sudden chang
except that of our nation benz
dragged into war.
When the European war epds-an
God speed the day-our war mum
tions factories will have to be cul
tailed, but they can be turned to othe
and more peaceful production. Amer
lean genius, enterprise and construt
tiveness will provide the means an
way. Europe will be dismantle'
millions of the flower of her manhoo
will have been killed or MANNED, an
she will need our aid and good office
for years to rehabilitate herself. 81
will need our food and other product
but, thank God, not our death-dealin
missiles. What has, what can, Anne
lean business have to fear from 81
rope dismantled, wounded and impo'
erished by the scourge of such d.
vastating war?