The Van Buren press., 1896-10-17

sition is not adventurous; It will re.
main in suspense rather than take risks.
In this connection a word of advice is
addressed to the gentlemen recently
elected to seats in the general assem-
bly,: Remember that borrowing COM
munity is enabled to push enterprises,
build needed institutions, obtain ma
terials which are Indispensable, and, by
a system of deferred payments, retain
at home their own savings for the de-
velopment of enterprises and the en-
ployment of home labor Money in
circulation at home makes local busi-
ness active. We are producers of raw
material, consequently we receive the
lowest wages paid for labor, white we
exchange our product for the product
of skilled labor In other words, we do
drudgery in Arkansas and with the pro-
ceeds of drudgery pay for manufac-
tured goods-or in other words, we are
supporting skilled labor in other states
1t is to our interest to employ skilled
labor by establishing cotton mills,
wagon factories, furniture factories, biz
cycle factories, etc. Capital is the first,
the essential requisite. Capital cannot
be legislated in by national enactment
but it can be legislated out by state en-
actment 1t has been legislated out
not purposely, but by ill-timed pru-
denee. Every ill-conceived thrust at
railroads, every attempt to place capi-
tai at disadvantage or to enforce par
TALLY legal obligations, is bar to cap
ital. A state SO richly endowed with
temptations to capital should assert its
purpose to fulfill its obligations and
extend to the capitalist every right and
privilege guaranteed to other citizens.
The slightest adverse law or the most
trivial discrimination in the form of un-
friendly taxation will cause us to re-
main as we are, producers of raw ma
terial paying tribute to skilled labor
elsewhere. This is a matter OF business
purely, question of self interest which
comes directly home to every citizen OF
the state. 1t is therefore the duty of
the general assembly to not only refrain
from all attempt to enact legislation
unfriendly to capital at the coming ses-
sion, but also, to go step further and
expunge from the statute every law, if
there be any, tending to obstruct the
inflow of capital. The farmers of Ar
kansas have patiently labored under
adverse conditions a generation past.
Few of them have succeeded in aceum-
ulating a small surplus, but the masses
ba hnn1l ilEa n ma
stream, barely able to keep from drift
ing downward. They are deserving of
change for the better. They merit
the reward they have so dearly earned.
With manufactures distributed over
the state, and with mining interests in
process of development home market
will be brought to their doors and farm
products will command prices which
will make farming profitable Capital
will ensure these conditions The nat
ural course of events is favorable. A
prolonged business depression is fol-
lowed by a corresponding forward
movement. The dislocated joints of
commerce are being brought together
and complications are diminishing
daily. The sober sense of the people
will assert itself and when the political
campaign ends business will regain its
buoyancy. Arkansas should profit by
the restoration of confidence and be.
come the centerfeld of industry and
new enterprises. The Queen State of
the Southwest should avail itself of
every opportunity for advancement
which the coming era of prosperity pre-
sents.