Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-07
Blu siness Since Election.

would surely follow McKinley's election.
1.-THE News.
In the first place Mr.. Mckinley will
not become president for two months
yet--we are still living under DEM
ocratic administration and Of course
are at a disadvantage.
eHowever it has done pretty well.
The New York Journal, the leading
free silver organ Of the country, last
week asked and obtained from many
leading businessmen their views on
the course Of trade since election.
As rule, each person replied from
his own immediate point Of view and
in respect to his own business, but
those in position to take broad out
look gave encouraging reports. The
grocers, dry goods merchants, boot
and shoe men and leather dealers see
a decided improvement, both in the
present and the future. A few
examples are as follows:
Phelps, Dodge & Palmer Of Chicago
say: 1.-THE boot and shoe business
has shown great improvement in the
last two months and we can see no
reason why the increase should not
continue after the LIST OF January"
William M. Hoyt, grocer, sees an
increased volume of business and Of
tonnage, though prices are lower than
a year ago.
| W. b. Schmidt, wholesale grocer in
New Orleans, says: "Our business
has improved very materially since
the election. Confidence has been
restored and money is plentiful for
for all wants. look forward with
bright prospects for the new year."
In Cincinnati j. 7. Carew, presi-
dent Of dry goods company, observes
a marked improvement in business
since the election, and that the spring
trade will be larger than in 1896.
In New York City the report is less
enthusiastic but nearly all the big
firms see "a considerable improve
ment in business since election. v
Some firms do not take this view but
most Of them do. In Cleveland and
San Francisco an improvement is
noted.
The journal also asked Of several
congressman IL they considered the
recent bank failures the result OF the
election. Nearly all answered in the
negative; among them Senator Mills
of Texas and Senator Jones OF Arkan-
sas, chairman of the Bryan Demo-
cratic committee.
These gentlemen are all more cap
able Of judging of conditions than the
News, with all due consideration to
its wide acquaintance with the bust
ness of the nation.
The fact is that the News like some
some other followers Of Bryan does
not want prosperity to come. 1t
would rather see a general smash up
than anything else, just to make Mr.
Mckinley bear the blame. The
misery in which the Democracy has
been for four years since it supported
and elected Mr.. Cleveland has made
it very bitter and very sour and the
new expression on its features is by
no means becoming.
Then too the difficulty of the pres
ent situation is that nearly every per-
son has his own idea of what consti-
tutes prosperity. Naturally enough,
each one Judges from his own bust
ness surroundings and if times have
not improved with him he is apt to
think they have improved with no
one.
Prosperity, after several years of
dizziness and reaction such as we have
had, comes but slowly but for that
reason all the more surely. The
worst possible thing that could hap
pen to us would be great and sud
den boom in all lines Of business. 1t
could not be other than ephemeral,
and the bursting Of the bubble would
make our last state worse than the
first.
Stable prosperity must have time
Let the ball have q fair start. 1t will
gather size and force as 1t rolls.
Cheer up and look pleasant.
The News wonders as 1t sees cream