TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-10-23
A PATRIOTIC VISION.
America Striving for Supreme
Place in Worlds Commerce,
New York as the Future
Money Centre.

HsVssSI N~"N~s
New York a the futart
money centre OF the world
backed by a great merchant
fleet, carrying trade to the re-
hottest ends of the earth, is the
absorbing vision of the writer Of
Wollmans Review, issued by
w. J. Wollman & Co. of New
York.
New York has become the fl
nancial centre of the world, says
the reviewer. Great economic
and political currents, stirred by
activities Of peace and war
throughout the centuries, have
gradually moved the scat OF
business power westward. The
movement is traceable in history
from Asia Minor to theEuropean
shores of the Mediterranean,
thence to Northwest Europe,
then to Britain, and finally
across the Atlantic to America.
Will it remain here?
In the days when Venice was
laying the foundation Of politi-
cal and commercial empire, the
exchanges and other instruments
of trade were drawn on Constan-
tinople. The great city OF the
Bosporus was the gateway Of
business between what were
then the two grand divisions OF
the civilized world. Western
Europe, including those Of its
countries bordering on the Me-
diterranean, was even then shak-
ing the structure Of Asiatic
power through the Crusades.
Venice, strategically located
both for commerce and war, was
growing rapidly in population
and wealth. The twelfth and
thirteenth centuries saw her be-
come the chief emporium Of
The assistance she gave
to the Fourth Crusade resulted
in the establishment Of a Latin
which included domina-
ton of Constantinople itself.
Changing Currents Of Trade.
The discovery OF an all-water
route to India, oy way of the
Cape Of Good Hope, was a fatal
blow to the Venetian supremacy.
She lost her monopoly of Orien-
tai traffic. Henceforth Western
Europe had a means for foreign
trade which did not require the
services of Venetian middlemen.
The hardy, ambitious races Of
Northwest Europe were already
assuming economic indepen,
dence and gaining in competitive
power when the discovery of a
western continent brought a
new and unlimited outlet for
their energies.
Amsterdam now became the
centre from which and toward
the great trade currents
But wars and natural adj
vantages of location wrought
their inevitable changes, and the
genius and maritime
prowess of England built a new
seat for commercial and finan-
cial supremacy at London. For
two centuries the business Of
the globe mainly revolved about
and upon the British metropolis.
The great war has again shift
ed the tides of business But
never has the change been
wrought SO suddenly, or with
such significance for the future.
York, now the largest city
Of the world in population, has
become the worlds business cap
ital, and the United States the
foremost commercial and politi-
power.
The Bases Of Supremacy.
Upon what tangible evidences
this business supremacy based,
and what is the outlook for a
retention Of the positionf Al
New York and the coun-
try at large were moving in GER
tain definite ways toward such
supremacy, it is apparent that
war has precipitated the event
1t has also FASTENED those
developments which, in the par
lance OF war, have consolidated
the position.
A debtor nation when the war
out, the United States is
a creditor nation-a Gre
ditor TO an extent never known
before in history. 1t has paid
debts and absorbed foreign
held securities to a total Of fully
billion dollars. It has a
foreign trade in which the credit
hn1nmrn t. - - L. Ii