The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-06
AMERICA FIT FOR
TRADE STRUGGLE
after The WAR
Opportunities Greater Than
Ever and Country is
Better Equipped.
On. Y. Evening Post.)

We long ago endured the business
shock the war brought with it. For
many months we have been passing
through period of stimulation
brought by the war. This seems to
be closing, and we are apparently
about to enter upon the inevitable
time of readjustment to a peace ba-
sis
The prospect of peace seems to
bring with it only fear to many in
the business world. We are doing
well now, say they, but what is to
happen? Since it is not known pre-
cisely what is to happen or when 1t
VIII happen, ghosts are donJured up
ana given form and power, and men
worry over the, terrible possibility
from these creatures of their own
creation. What is wanted is not so
much nerves as nerve, not fear, but
foresight, not cowardice, but courage.
Least among all the peoples of the
world have we cause for dread. Our
withers are unwrung; our Golfers are
full; our sons survive. There will
be readjustments, possibly difficult
ones, but never was nation in such
shape Mo face them fearlessly as are
we today If the problems prove
difficult, the greater need for sanity
of mind and clearness of thought
about them. They are not to be
dealt with better, but worse, if we
are afraid of them. One need not
be needless because he is calm. A
quiet mind is not an indication Of
weakness or ignorance. Worry and
fear will not make the facts better,
but merely weaken our power to
deal with them. How we shall deal
!. With them depends chiefly on our
selves. Have we used the months Of
prosperity we'll? Are our debts paid?
Is depreciation marked off? Are
fixed assets marked down to real
values? Has the time of prosperity
been utilized to get rid of old equip
ment? Are we as certain of the
are that they will need to be good?
Do we clearly understand what it
costs us to make goods and to do
business? Have we clear knowledge
of our overhead charges and of how
the days of sunshine to prepare for
the time when it may rain? If we
have done SO we may approach the
COItCSC Int d II dlICu dIIIiCtO, 1OdAlcSo
of difficulties, counting them foemen
worthy of our steel.
Certainly it is true, whatever else
may be true, that America cannot
safely APPROACH the. future problems
in any spirit Of fear. First in inn
portance it is that we shall rely upon
ourselves. Back o the economic
questions lie those of character and
psychology The fundamental ques- |
ton is not SO much what is our posi-
ton as it is what are we. The ma
tions of Europe are taking steps to
concentrate their commercial forces
for action after the war. This they |
do, however. but as new expression
Of great power, but as the best means
to overcome great weakness. Behind |
them lies a background <of economic |
1oss-behind us lies a background of |
economic gain. They must reorganize |
and reconstruct. They must regain |
goodwill largely lost. They must |
make sharper readjustments from
war goods to- peade goods than I'VE.
Theirs is to regain that which is1ost |
under conditions Of relative weak |
ness. Ours to hold and improve that |
which is gained under conditions of |
great strength.
If in soberness one reflects on the |
means we have available for the
coming commercial contest, he will I
see that they are far more adequate |
than ever before. We are a creditor
now-not a debtor. We have banks I
and investments abroad; we have a |
larger vision than we had; we under !
stand the need of foreign markets !
better than we did; we know today |
commerce are one and inseparable, |
that united they standardized they |
fall. Many Of us have gotten the |
taste of foreign trade and find it good. |
We know that we must weep it, in i
deed, enlarge it, if our domestic trade |
is itself to prosper. We shall not !
have the foreign sources from which
we can borrow for our development |
as in the past. We must keep, if we
can, the great mass Of gold we have
acquired in order that our structure
of domestic credits may rest firmly
upon it. We have the power to do
this We have the economic strength
to hold our course. Such danger as
there is lies not in our means or in
our power, but in ourselves. Can we
stop industrial wastes? Can we wed |
science to industry? Can we have
industrial and commercial education?
With these we can win--without
them we cannot. 1t is up to u.s. The
trial of the coming days is to be a
test of the American people. They
have not failed yet, and I believe they