Arizona republican., 1918-01-15
lBradsGreet'@ Review of 1917
 and Forecast for 1918

Nineteen hundred and seventeen will 1 De memorable because the greatest of the worlds democracies, the United States of America-its foreign com merce forbidden, it's merchant ships sunk and it's citizens foully murdered --forsooll the paths of neutrality and went forward to seek with the sword peace and reparation from a country had broken it's plighted word to us, had treacherously assailed us while pro- fessing friendship. and had drenched the world in blood.
 3y and through this act and the consequences growing out of Americas absolutely necessary step, the war took 1n a new character, the irrepressible fonflict between the worlds two great systems of government became clearly Sefined and this country, once sneered Ft as mere collection of traders in the nsfortunes of others stood revealed as pne willing to battle and suffer for Ideals to which it's enemies declared it was an absolute stranger, Naturally, She trade history of such years as hat just closed is a difficult one to write because old standards of living Fere perforce abandoned, new and ltrange problems presented themselves 10 be solved and new rules of action Ind measures of attainment were set D. It is still, even nine months after Dur formal embarkation in the war, diff ficult to say what final success at tended this countrys efforts to adjust itself to war conditions. but it may at once be said that many of the steps taken and the progress made in trans forming it from a peaceful neutral to a great military and naval power have been comforting to those who have be- hevCd not only in the desirability, but n the efficiency under strain, of a re- publican form of government.
 Briefly stated, this country has been disclosed as capable of raising a great army and, allowing for natural differ ~nces of conditions, of building up a Sn equally great navy, of providing 'ood and munitions for it's own mill lions and those of it's allies, of taking fairly active part in war, at the same time permitting the pursuance of the necessary peaceful arts. and of acting as banker of the allies and loaning unprecedented sums to further the war ln doing this it has had to impose taxes as were never dreamed of by it's own people, 1t has floated vast loans to unprecedented numbers of subscribers - IL has requisitioned men and materials alike for war and peace purposes has Set up rules for buying and selling, eat ing and drinking, and has directed the growing and marketing of crops anC the disposal of their surpluses among the nations. In a word, it has done most of the things thought necessary for the success of it's policies, and, tC tho amazement alike of it's friends anC foes, has done all this with a minimum of apparent compulsion, and indeed with anNiptU the IT n It's people simply to learn what was re, quired and to do it with a promptitud' and completeness unequaled in tn, worlds history. In the doing of these things, and in preparation for othel and greater undertakings, it has broker as many precedents of policy as it hal records of production. Indeed, the bil events occurring and the great basii changes made have been vertically kale ldoscopic in their number and characte and the words .''record,e 'unprece- dented", enormous" and other adject ives have become time worn and hack neyed from their constant iteration.
 With the great war now movin; through it's fourth year, a bird's-ey' view of the big happenings as the! have affected ourselves might not b' amiss. The closing months of 191 found this country laboring to adap itself to the new and strange con ditions forced upon it in common witt the rest of the world. Closed eX changes, disorganized industries, hun dreds of thousands of workers idle ant lack of confidence were the salien features. In 1915 liquidation of Ameri can stock and bonds held abroad am feverish activity in supplying munition and food for our customers stood ou as big features. In 1916 we assume the position of a creditor nation, loan ed freely to the entire world, bough heavily of belligerent securities, i'm ported both gold and merchandise il unheard of volume, and exported food munitions and manufactures to sim liar extent. while expanding old an establishing new industries as a hot house develops plants. Efforts to brin about world peace undertaken by ou president failed.
 Nineteen hundred and seventeen say us assert our right to life as com mercial nation, raise two enormou popular loans for the prosecution of tn war. lay the foundation for and req upon this great military and maya forces. port of this voluntarily enlisted and part a great popular army system to get the latter 10,000,000 young me- submitting themselves to conscriptior The government followed the draftin Of soldiers and civilians by 8 great con scription of wealth and industry, regu lated outputs of and prices in all line of basic production, commandeere shipping already building or contracte for and began construction of vas fleet of merchant ships to make up fC submarine sinkings. dispatched hun dreds of thousands of soldiers and sail ors to Europe. abolished speculation many lines, and practically, if not actuality took over control of the cour try's railways In fact, despite bureau cratic red tape, which delayed but di not entirely check progress, it took a the steps necessary to organize tf country's forces for offense and de fense with, as it turned out, a min mum amount of iiisorganization C everyday business, which. though nat urally affected by the diversion millions of men and women frol peaceful pursuits, continued of vel large volume. In this connection
 would be well to state that while ecor omy campaigns, acquisitions for goN ernment use and the inevitable require ments for war have, without douh lessened civilian takings, and some nc essential industries have felt the effe of these efforts at national solidarit and provision, the output of industl and the volume of trade in the countl as a whole broke all records in valu This latter condition has, of cours been rendered possible by reason of u immense demand for labor and the his
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