The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-06-21

servicnt to It. must be overthrow aud the worlds
commerce freed from serious dangers. II this h
70 be Effected the whole German Idea OF trnding
must be modified.
Economic pcnstrution" has long been recog'
niEed In Germany MS one Of the most Important
functions Of the state. The highest In the empire
kings. princes, mobiles and hereditary land mag
nates. have We'd In showing their Interest In all In
dustrihl aud commercial enterprises Of magnitude
and In promoting In every way possible 20 them the
expansion OF German trade, while chancellors' CAB
mat officers and members Of parliament have prae-
uca1y been al the beck and call OF corporations
and individuals embarking on new undertakings
on a large scale. The state In many lines has be
come the partner OF leading promoter and In cases
where capital Ia risked In enterprises, which n
successful must rebound 30 the benefit of the en-
plre, that capital Ia practically guaranteed against
loss. Should the enterprise itself be revealed as
practicable, but be JeopArdiEed by ineompetency or
dishonesty, the state viii ind a way TO step In. TO
protect the outside investor and to turn the enter
prise 20 success. Differently from what occurs In
certain mors democratic countries. the German
state does not stand aloof from trade and indus
try, does not eye Dig business" with cold suspi'
don. or permit the legislative bodies 10 modest Il
with a multitude OF pin.prcking laws. The kaiser
poses ns the friend and associate OF great muni'
lions manufacturers. visits with westphalian coal
bnrons. presides az the launching of steamships
owned By private corporations and lends the en-.
CONTEMPORARY u Nh lIfsfuff W w NNAAllk VI
canals. or the making N automobiles, or shoes. or
carpetA by private enterprise. The whole attitude
Of the State toward trade IN different In Germany.
By instinct. Il Ia possible that the kaiser. the
princes. the counts and the hHrons % Germany
have as little desire 20 come In contact with the
ordinary mortnls who are in trade" as certain H.
tied Bntons have, but In Germany duty 90 the state
oyercomes the repugnance. The one supreme duty
Of all Il 20 promote the military might OF the state,
for In this way alone cnn Germany's greatness be
assured.
hut military power In these times II dependent
on economic power. The nation with the most
money can win wars, Is the crude commercial way
IN which the idea has been phrnsed In other coun'
tries. Germany has different notions. but admits
tho hard fact that trade and militarism are Inter
related. And as the warfare Of today has called
for new methods on the battlefield. 30 IL also de
mands new forms OF aid from commerce. Through
trade and commerce the armed forces OF the nation
can deliver some Of their most telling blows. Since,
in the present hour, whether one likes Il or not
the fact Is established that the army Is more Than
ever dependent on commerce., the army must now
work for trade and trade must work for the army.
This reasoning was furnished as the fundamental
i~ustifying motive for the law on civil CONSUMPTION
IN Germany, and the German government, II II
endures. Il expected to push The principle as vigor'
ously after the war ns II does now. Even " Ger
many lost the war. Il Il affirmed. she can count On
tdumphing ultimately through her trade methods.
How vigorously befinhny N NofAihe ON thlr pIlh'
ciple IL best realized from the fact that since the
beginning Of the war, and TO a greatly Increased
extent In the past year, the German government
has effected new combinations between leading
manufacturing and commercial concerns In Ger
many engaged In foreign business and Is using the
government resources In the combinations. The
facts IN this regnrd. known from other sources. are
confirmed by the complaints OF the smaller Ger
man concerns left out OF the combination and de
uryed. not merely OF all financial ana commercial
participation, but also Of all knowledge OF the bust
ness operations In which the government and bg
business arr engaged. Il l. this apparently estab
ushed fact OF the union OF the government with
the most Important Of the German firms transact
ing business abroad which Ia the basis for much OF
the concern manifested In the countries Of the al
lies regarding the German method Of handling
trade and commerce and the future syilH which Il
foreEastn-